2 Samuel 2 32

2 Samuel 2:32 kjv

And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

2 Samuel 2:32 nkjv

Then they took up Asahel and buried him in his father's tomb, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at daybreak.

2 Samuel 2:32 niv

They took Asahel and buried him in his father's tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.

2 Samuel 2:32 esv

And they took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was at Bethlehem. And Joab and his men marched all night, and the day broke upon them at Hebron.

2 Samuel 2:32 nlt

Joab and his men took Asahel's body to Bethlehem and buried him there in his father's tomb. Then they traveled all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.

2 Samuel 2 verses

2 Samuel 2 32 Meaning

This verse details the immediate aftermath of Asahel's death, killed by Abner during the battle at Gibeon. It records his burial in his father's tomb in Bethlehem, symbolizing his connection to the region and to David's family. Simultaneously, it describes the urgent, all-night journey of Joab and Abishai, Asahel's brothers and David's chief commanders, as they return to Hebron, David's capital at the time. The verse encapsulates both an act of mourning and a strategic movement amidst the unfolding civil war between the houses of David and Saul.

2 Samuel 2 32 Context

This verse is situated immediately after a significant battle at the pool of Gibeon between the forces of David, led by Joab and Abishai, and the forces loyal to Saul's house, led by Abner. Asahel, David's nephew and a renowned runner, had relentlessly pursued Abner and, despite Abner's warnings, refused to turn back, leading to his fatal wounding. Verse 32 marks the conclusion of this direct engagement by attending to Asahel's fallen body. It provides a brief but poignant moment of burial, underscoring the human cost of the civil war that continued between the nascent kingdom of David in Hebron and the remaining house of Saul in Mahanaim. Historically, David had been anointed king of Judah in Hebron, while Ish-Bosheth, Saul's son, ruled over the other tribes, backed by Abner. This conflict, now exacerbated by the death of David's kinsman, would have lasting repercussions.

2 Samuel 2 32 Word analysis

• And: Connects the actions to the preceding events of the battle and Asahel's death, indicating consequence.
• they took up (וַיִּשְׂאוּ - wayyiśśᵉʾū): From the root נשׂא (nasa), meaning "to lift, carry." Implies the solemn act of carrying a deceased body for burial.
• Asahel (עֲשָׂהאֵל - ʿAśâʾēl): "God has made" or "God-made." A notable warrior known for his swiftness. His death became a key trigger in the intensifying feud.
• buried (וַיִּקְבְּרֻהוּ - wayyiqbərūhū): From the root קבר (qābar), "to bury." The act of burial was crucially important in ancient Israel, signifying respect and belief in proper handling of the dead.
• him: Refers to Asahel, focusing on the deceased individual.
• in the sepulchre (בְּקֶבֶר - bəqeber): "In the tomb" or "in the grave." A specific, often familial, burial site, signifying inherited identity and continuity.
• of his father: Identifies the familial connection and the cultural importance of burial within one's family plot, tying Asahel to Jesse's lineage.
• which was in Bethlehem (בְּבֵית לֶחֶם - bəḇêt leḥem): "House of Bread." This city holds profound theological and historical significance as David's hometown and the prophesied birthplace of the Messiah, further linking Asahel to this vital heritage.
• And Joab (וְיוֹאָב - wəyōʾāḇ): "Yahweh is father." David's primary military commander, Asahel's brother. His presence indicates personal grief and sets the stage for his subsequent vengeful actions.
• and Abishai (וַאֲבִישַׁי - waʾăḇîšay): "My father is Jesse" or "my father is a gift." Also Asahel's brother and a prominent commander. His presence alongside Joab reinforces solidarity.
• went (וַיֵּלְכוּ - wayyēlᵉḵū): "They went." Denotes immediate movement, implying progression following the burial.
• all night: Highlights the urgency, intensity, and determination of their journey, showing they did not rest. This contrasts the somber burial with urgent, ongoing events.
• and they came (וַיָּבֹאוּ - wayyāḇōʾū): "And they came." Marks the successful and rapid completion of their journey.
• to Hebron (חֶבְרוֹנָה - Ḥebrōnâ): "To Hebron." A key ancient city, David's first capital as king of Judah. Their return here signifies re-engagement with their political and military duties under David.
• at break of day (בַּבֹּקֶר - babbaqqer): "In the morning." Signifies the start of a new day, contrasting with the all-night travel, emphasizing their swiftness and determination.

• "And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father which was in Bethlehem.": This segment emphasizes the personal cost of the conflict. Asahel, a Davidic kinsman, is returned to his familial, ancestral home for burial. Bethlehem, later famed as the Messiah's birthplace, adds symbolic weight, subtly connecting Asahel's lineage to the unfolding Davidic covenant, even in death. The solemn ritual of burial in the family sepulchre highlights the importance of identity, heritage, and proper respects in ancient Israel, offering a moment of somber pause amidst war.
• "And Joab and Abishai went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.": This section shifts from mourning to immediate action and consequence. The brothers' urgent, relentless journey "all night" speaks volumes of their determination and potential thirst for vengeance. Their return to Hebron, David's royal seat, signifies a report of the events and preparation for further action. This journey sets the stage for the dramatic escalation of the conflict and the subsequent blood feud between Joab and Abner. It underscores the ceaseless, intense nature of the civil war and the direct connection between battlefield losses and strategic regrouping at the political center.

2 Samuel 2 32 Bonus section

• The immediate journey by Joab and Abishai directly connects to the concept of bloodguilt and the expectation of the go'el haddam (redeemer/avenger of blood) in Israelite law (Num 35). Though Asahel’s death by Abner was in self-defense, Joab, driven by kinship, perceives it as an act that requires vengeance, a theme that tragically defines much of the ensuing conflict.
• The contrast between the sacred rest of the burial in Bethlehem and the restless journey to Hebron exemplifies the tension between peace (or its yearning) and ongoing war. Bethlehem symbolizes origin and spiritual significance, while Hebron, as David's new capital, represents earthly power and strategic importance in the immediate aftermath of the battle.
• The text does not record David's personal attendance or direct command regarding Asahel's burial, perhaps highlighting Joab and Abishai's immediate personal duty as brothers, yet his authority in Hebron is implied by their return there.

2 Samuel 2 32 Commentary

2 Samuel 2:32 serves as a pivotal transition point in the ongoing civil war between the house of David and the house of Saul. The burial of Asahel, David's swift-footed nephew and the brother of his leading commanders, in the family tomb in Bethlehem, carries significant weight. It is a deeply personal act of mourning, connecting the fallen warrior not just to his immediate kin but to the profound historical and theological heritage of Bethlehem itself – David's hometown and the prophetic site for the Messiah's birth. This sacred closure for Asahel's physical life stands in stark contrast to the burning desire for vengeance now harbored by Joab and Abishai. Their immediate, all-night journey back to Hebron, David's capital, underscores the urgent implications of Asahel's death. It indicates that while one battle has concluded and a funeral observed, the wider conflict, particularly the blood feud with Abner, has only intensified. The verse highlights both the ritual solemnity of death and the unyielding realities of political and personal vendettas in this formative period of Israel's monarchy, subtly foreshadowing the grim events that would soon unfold, deepening the rift between the warring houses.