David is anointed king over the house of Judah in Hebron; Abner makes Ish-bosheth king over Israel; the young men meet at the pool of Gibeon, the long war begins, and swift-footed Asahel falls to the hinder end of Abner's spear.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of Hashem, saying: ‘Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?’ And Hashem said to him: ‘Go up.’ And David said: ‘Whither shall I go up?’ And He said: ‘To Hebron.’
verse value 3202
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 85 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֛ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "David" (דָּוִ֨ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "after·that" (אַחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 257: and·said, and·said, and·said. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "Hebron" (חֶבְרֹֽנָה). The root אמר appears 4 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "and·it·was" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root שאל ("and·asked") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root עיר ("cities·of") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'go·up', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 6 words.
Ralbag
And it came to pass after that, and David inquired of the Lord, saying, etc., until 'David spoke to the Lord the words of this song.' He relates that afterward David inquired of God whether he should go up to one of the cities of Judah, and the answer came to him in the end that he should go up to Hebron, and there the house of Judah anointed him king over them. And David had already told the men of Jabesh-gilead that he would repay them good reward for the kindness they had shown to their lord, Saul, in making the effort to take his body and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan and bury them, and he urged them to strengthen themselves and be valiant men, for what David would command them regarding the wars.
Metzudat Zion
Whither. To which place, as (Deuteronomy 1:28): whither are we going up?
Malbim
David inquired further after recounting thus far, for David did not seize the kingdom by force as a rebellious servant against his master: not at its beginning, for he was anointed by the mouth of a prophet; nor during Saul’s lifetime, for he submitted before him like a faithful servant; nor while Saul pursued him, for his enemy fell into his hands twice and he did not stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed; nor even after his death, for he killed the messenger who reported his death and mourned and lamented for him. He would recount that even now it was not in his mind to return and seek the crown, and he thought perhaps the kingdom would come to Saul’s son, or perhaps the time had not yet arrived for him to reign, and then surely he would be in danger upon returning to the land. He did nothing until he consulted God, and he asked whether he should return and to which place he should return, and he did not rely on his own counsel and wisdom, for this was David’s merit over Saul, that he cast his burden upon the Lord.
So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
verse value 3656
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 52 letters. The shortest word is "there" (שָׁם֙, 2 letters) and the longest is "Jezreelitess" (הַיִּזְרְעֵלִ֔ית, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "his·wives" (נָשָׁ֑יו), "Ahinoam" (אֲחִינֹ֙עַם֙), "Jezreelitess" (הַיִּזְרְעֵלִ֔ית). The root אשה appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "there" (root שם, 63x in II Samuel); "his·wives" (root אשה, 45x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root נבל ("Nabal") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'his·wives', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 6 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֤עַל [and·went·up] (116) + שָׁם֙ [there] (340) + דָּוִ֔ד [David] (14) + וְגַ֖ם [and·also] (49) + שְׁתֵּ֣י [two] (710) + נָשָׁ֑יו [his·wives] (366) + אֲחִינֹ֙עַם֙ [Ahinoam] (179) + הַיִּזְרְעֵלִ֔ית [Jezreelitess] (732) + וַאֲבִיגַ֕יִל [and·Abigail] (62) + אֵ֖שֶׁת [wife·of] (701) + נָבָ֥ל [Nabal] (82) + הַֽכַּרְמְלִֽי [Carmelite] (305) = 3656.
Malbim
(2-3) The Questions: What is the novelty of the verse that he took his wives, and why did not his men settle in Hebron itself?
"And he went up": he recounts that after the word of the Lord had reached him, he feared nothing at all, and immediately took his wives with him — something he would not have done had there still been any doubt or fear in his heart.
And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household; and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
verse value 2721
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 41 letters. The shortest word is "David" (דָוִ֖ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·his·men" (וַאֲנָשָׁ֧יו, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "that·with·him" (אֲשֶׁר־עִמּ֛וֹ), "brought·up" (הֶעֱלָ֥ה), "and·his·household" (וּבֵית֑וֹ). The root איש appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "that·with·him" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "and·his·men" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root בית ("and·his·household") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root חברון ("Hebron") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·his·household', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַאֲנָשָׁ֧יו [and·his·men] (373) + אֲשֶׁר־עִמּ֛וֹ [that·with·him] (617) + הֶעֱלָ֥ה [brought·up] (110) + דָוִ֖ד [David] (14) + אִ֣ישׁ [man] (311) + וּבֵית֑וֹ [and·his·household] (424) + וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ [and·they·dwelt] (324) + בְּעָרֵ֥י [in·cities·of] (282) + חֶבְרֽוֹן [Hebron] (266) = 2721.
Metzudat David
In the cities of Hebron. In the cities adjacent to Hebron:
Malbim
And likewise, his men who were with him, he did not bring with him on the way as a large contingent to surround him, as if his intention was to be encircled by men of war for the time of need. Rather, he settled them in the cities of Hebron, meaning in the cities adjacent to Hebron; he settled them in a dispersed manner, so that he remained alone in Hebron, for he trusted in God, the strength of his fortress.
And the men of Judah came, and they there anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying: ‘The men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.’
verse value 4884
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 79 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֥ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·they·anointed·there" (וַיִּמְשְׁחוּ־שָׁ֧ם, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 361: man, man. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·they·anointed·there" (וַיִּמְשְׁחוּ־שָׁ֧ם), "buried" (קָבְר֖וּ). The root איש appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "to·king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root משח ("and·they·anointed·there") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root מלך ("to·king") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 9 words.
Radak
"And they anointed David there." Although he had already been anointed by Samuel, nevertheless, when they accepted him as king, they anointed him.
"And they told David, saying, 'The men of Jabesh-Gilead.'" Explanation: [i.e.,] the matter of the men of Jabesh-Gilead.
"Who buried Saul." Or, it is like an inverted phrase: "Who the men of Jabesh-gilead buried — Saul."
Metzudat David
The men etc. who buried. The words are inverted, like as the men of Jabesh Gilead buried Saul:
Malbim
(4-7) The Questions: Why does he recount what he sent to the men of Jabesh-Gilead, when there is no written record of this? And regarding the phrase "I too will do you this good deed," what is hinted at by the word "this"? And why did he say that they should strengthen themselves, and that the children of Judah anointed him?
And they came, and behold, the word of the Lord was fulfilled, for the men of Judah had anointed him king. For the time for the general kingship had not yet arrived, for it was fitting that two kings should emerge from Benjamin, as it is stated, "And kings shall come out of your loins," in accordance with the words of our Sages of blessed memory. And he further recounted that, in his righteousness, he did not act like other officers who become kings in place of their masters, whose custom is to kill all who love their king and to erase all memory of them, so that their own kingship may be secured. (Even though he realized that he had been anointed only by Judah and not by Israel: quite the opposite, for then they informed him that the men of Jabesh Gilead were those who buried Saul, risking their lives to take his corpse from the wall of Beth Shan — remembering the kindness he had shown them at the beginning of his reign against Nahash the Ammonite. And this was a sign that they were lovers of Saul and his house even after his death. Nevertheless, he did not become angry with them, but rather sent to bless them.)
And David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them: ‘Blessed be you of Hashem, that you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him.
verse value 5660
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 89 letters. Notable word values: "to·them" (אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "David" (דָּוִד֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "with·your·lord" (עִם־אֲדֹֽנֵיכֶם֙, 8 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "to·men·of" (אֶל־אַנְשֵׁ֖י), "blessed" (בְּרֻכִ֤ים), "goodness" (הַחֶ֣סֶד). 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "to·men·of" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root מלאך ("messengers") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root ברך ("blessed") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Gilead', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 13 words.
Malbim
"With your master, for this one was obligated: A. by virtue of his being your master; B. by virtue of his being Saul, the Chosen One of the Lord:"
And now Hashem show kindness and truth to you; and I also will requite you this kindness, because you have done this thing.
verse value 4532
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 61 letters. The shortest word is "goodness" (חֶ֣סֶד, 3 letters) and the longest is "may·Hashem·do" (יַעַשׂ־יְהֹוָ֥ה, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "may·Hashem·do" (יַעַשׂ־יְהֹוָ֥ה). The root עשה appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "may·Hashem·do" (root יהוה, 151x in II Samuel); "the·thing" (root דבר, 107x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root עתה ("now") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root אמת ("and·truth") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·truth', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 10 words.
Radak
"This good thing." The reward for this good thing:
Metzudat David
This kindness. The reward for this kindness:
Metzudat Zion
And faithful. Its meaning is like 'kindness', and so (below 15:20): and return... kindness and truth.
Malbim
And now, let the Lord do — since according to the measure that a person measures, it is measured to him; certainly the Lord will do kindness with you in return for the kindness that you have done. And since the Lord repays the reward of good, He will do truth with you. And also, "I too," etc., informed them not to fear the danger that might befall them because of this at the hands of the Philistines, for I too am ready to do this good deed for you, on account of which you performed this act. That is to say, since the deed that you did — risking your lives for the burial of Saul — came about on account of the good deed that Saul did for you in saving you from Nahash the Ammonite, so too He will do this good deed for you, saving you from your enemies if you are in danger because of this matter.
Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be you valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.’
verse value 3765
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 67 letters. The shortest word is "now" (וְעַתָּ֣ה, 4 letters) and the longest is "house·of·Judah" (בֵית־יְהוּדָ֛ה, 8 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "let·them·strengthen" (תֶּחֱזַ֣קְנָה), "your·hands" (יְדֵיכֶ֗ם), "your·lord" (אֲדֹנֵיכֶ֣ם). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "and·be·you" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel); "upon·them" (root על, 121x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root חיל ("to·sons·of·valor") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Saul', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 5 words. Full calculation: וְעַתָּ֣ה [now] (481) + תֶּחֱזַ֣קְנָה [let·them·strengthen] (570) + יְדֵיכֶ֗ם [your·hands] (84) + וִֽהְיוּ֙ [and·be·you] (27) + לִבְנֵי־חַ֔יִל [to·sons·of·valor] (140) + כִּי־מֵ֖ת [that·was·dead] (470) + אֲדֹנֵיכֶ֣ם [your·lord] (125) + שָׁא֑וּל [Saul] (337) + וְגַם־אֹתִ֗י [and·also·me] (460) + מָשְׁח֧וּ [they·smeared] (354) + בֵית־יְהוּדָ֛ה [house·of·Judah] (442) + לְמֶ֖לֶךְ [to·king] (120) + עֲלֵיהֶֽם [upon·them] (155) = 3765.
Metzudat David
"Let your hands be strengthened." This means: Strengthen yourselves and become valiant men to wage your battle.
"For your master Saul is dead." He had been your helper from then on, to fight on your behalf.
They anointed me as well. This is to say: "I shall not be inferior to him, and I too shall be a helper for you."
Malbim
And now he wishes to say, “Now that your lord Saul is dead, and there is no one to fight on your behalf, you must strengthen yourselves.” Nevertheless, do not despair by thinking that there is no shield for you, for even I was anointed by the House of Judah, and I will be a refuge for you in times of distress.
Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;
verse value 4410
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 51 letters. Verse gematria: 4410 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֣ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·brought·him·over" (וַיַּעֲבִרֵ֖הוּ, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·brought·him·over" (וַיַּעֲבִרֵ֖הוּ). The root בין appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "Ish" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel); "son·of·Ner" (root בין, 98x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root אבנר ("and·Abner") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root צבא ("captain·of·host") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·Saul', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 6 words. Full calculation: וְאַבְנֵ֣ר [and·Abner] (259) + בֶּן־נֵ֔ר [son·of·Ner] (302) + שַׂר־צָבָ֖א [captain·of·host] (593) + אֲשֶׁ֣ר [that] (501) + לְשָׁא֑וּל [to·Saul] (367) + לָקַ֗ח [took] (138) + אֶת־אִ֥ישׁ [Ish] (712) + בֹּ֙שֶׁת֙ [Bosheth] (702) + בֶּן־שָׁא֔וּל [son·of·Saul] (389) + וַיַּעֲבִרֵ֖הוּ [and·brought·him·over] (299) + מַחֲנָֽיִם [Mahanaim] (148) = 4410.
Rashi
To take hold of Ish-bosheth. The verse required exposition [to teach] that two kings were destined to arise from Binyamin, for the Holy One Blessed Be He said to Yaakov (Genesis 35:12): 'And kings shall come from your loins,' and all his sons were already born except Binyamin.
Radak
"And he brought him over to Mahanaim." He [Abner] wanted to crown him [Ish-bosheth] first on the other side of the Jordan, and so he brought him over to Mahanaim, for it is at the midpoint of the border of two and a half tribes; for Mahanaim was on the border of the sons of Gad and the border of the sons of Manasseh. And even though Abner knew that David had been anointed king by Samuel, he strengthened himself to still establish the kingdom of Saul according to his power. And in the Midrash, on the verse "And God said to Jacob, 'I am El Shaddai; be fruitful and multiply, etc.,'" they said: From here Abner expounded, and he drew near to Ish-bosheth son of Saul and said: Scripture states, "Kings shall come forth from your loins," and concerning Benjamin it was said that [a king] had not yet been born, and until now none from Benjamin had arisen [as king] except Saul. Therefore he took Ish-bosheth and made him king over Gilead, etc.
Ralbag
And behold Abner son of Ner had made Ish-bosheth king over the rest of the tribes, except the tribe of Judah that followed David.
Metzudat David
And he brought him over to Mahanaim. There was a place suitable to crown him:
Malbim
(8-9) “And Abner...” and he first made him king over Gilead, for indeed the men of Jabesh-Gilead were lovers of Saul. And afterwards he made him king over the Ashurites, etc., until he made him king over all Israel.
Cross-references: Judges 6:32; I Samuel 14:49; II Samuel 4:4; II Samuel 11:21; I Chronicles 8:33
and he made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
verse value 2571
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 59 letters. The shortest word is "his·them" (כֻּלֹּֽה, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·to·the·Ashurites" (וְאֶל־הָאֲשׁוּרִ֖י, 9 letters). 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·made·him·king" (וַיַּמְלִכֵ֙הוּ֙), "to·Gilead" (אֶל־הַגִּלְעָ֔ד), "and·to·the·Ashurites" (וְאֶל־הָאֲשׁוּרִ֖י). The root עול appears 3 times in this verse. 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·made·him·king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "his·them" (root כל, 95x in II Samuel); "and·to·the·Ashurites" (root אל, 72x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root כל ("his·them") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·to·Jezreel', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 4 words. 6 of the verse's 8 words begin with the letter ו. Full calculation: וַיַּמְלִכֵ֙הוּ֙ [and·made·him·king] (117) + אֶל־הַגִּלְעָ֔ד [to·Gilead] (143) + וְאֶל־הָאֲשׁוּרִ֖י [and·to·the·Ashurites] (559) + וְאֶֽל־יִזְרְעֶ֑אל [and·to·Jezreel] (355) + וְעַל־אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ [and·over·Ephraim] (437) + וְעַל־בִּנְיָמִ֔ן [and·over·Benjamin] (258) + וְעַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל [and·over·Israel] (647) + כֻּלֹּֽה [his·them] (55) = 2571.
Radak
"And he made him king over Gilead." The word *el* here is used in the sense of *al* (over), just as in "upon the mountains he has not eaten" (Ezekiel 18:6), and so elsewhere; he first made him king across the Jordan, and [then] in the Land of Israel.
"And to the Ashurite, and to Jezreel, and to Ephraim, and to Benjamin." After he said "over all Israel," why did he mention these places? One may explain that this was upon his [Ish-bosheth's] return from Mahanaim, and this was after the battle of the young men, when Abner returned after the battle to Mahanaim, to Ish-bosheth, and then brought him across to these places mentioned, until his return to his home in the land of Benjamin. But he made him king over all Israel except for the tribe of Judah. And the meaning of "the Ashurite" is, as its Targum renders it, "of the house of Ashur." And the meaning of "and to Jezreel" is not this Jezreel that is in the inheritance of the sons of Manasseh.
Metzudat David
And over all Israel. Meaning: at first they made him king over those places mentioned one by one, until finally they made him king over all Israel, save Judah:
Ish-bosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
verse value 4834
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 67 letters. The shortest word is "indeed" (אַ֚ךְ, 2 letters) and the longest is "son·of·forty" (בֶּן־אַרְבָּעִ֨ים, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 21: indeed, were. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "son·of·forty" (בֶּן־אַרְבָּעִ֨ים), "and·two" (וּשְׁתַּ֥יִם). The root בין appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "in·his·reigning" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "were" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root שנה ("year") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'reigns', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 6 words.
Ralbag
And behold it relates that Ish-bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years. And behold, if he reigned only two years, one of three things is required: either that Abner waited to anoint him five and a half years after Saul's death, immediately after Saul's death, so that David would not hold all the kingdoms of Israel; and the second matter is that Israel waited to anoint David over them five and a half years after the death of Ish-bosheth, and this too is very far-fetched in my eyes, since we already found that Israel agreed to anoint David over them even during Ish-bosheth's lifetime, and for this it is not possible that they wait to anoint him after Ish-bosheth; and the third matter is that some of this time was between Saul's death and Ish-bosheth's kingship and the kingship of all Israel over David, and this too is far-fetched because of the causes mentioned in the preceding matters. And it seems to me that their saying 'and he reigned two years' is to indicate that what is related afterward concerning Abner and Joab was not until after he reigned two years. And for this his saying 'and he reigned two years' shall be connected to his saying 'And Abner son of Ner went out and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, etc.' And in the first two years there was no war at all between David and the seed of Saul, and even now there was no war there except what Abner stirred up concerning the war, and this is a sign that David did not agree to pursue the house of Saul and his seed, but rather kept the oath he swore to him not to destroy his name, even though David was already busy with what had come to him of success, and did not wish to hasten the end to bring to him quickly the kingship, until God desired, whose purposes are devised. And behold, Abner was light in the killing of the youths, and his recompense was measure for measure, and it is that he already fell by the sword at the end of the matter.
Metzudat David
Over Israel. Meaning: over all Israel, and he ruled over them all for two years, and the preceding five years and six months, he was not yet king over all Israel, only over the places mentioned above, and still one by one over some of the places, and all the duration of his kingship was as counted that David reigned in Hebron:
Malbim
The questions: What is the meaning of the statement that Ish-Bosheth reigned for two years? This is very astonishing. Did not Ish-Bosheth immediately become king after the death of Saul, and after his death did not all Israel anoint David, and did David not reign over the House of Judah for seven years? If so, did Ish-Bosheth not reign for seven years, rather than two?
“And he reigned two years” – the verse, in my opinion, explains that he reigned as a king in such a manner that only the House of Judah remained loyal to David, while the rest of the people were under his rule. Such a kingship lasted only two years. For in truth, he reigned for seven years (immediately upon his death, they anointed David over all Israel, and David reigned over Judah for seven years, during which time Ish-bosheth reigned over Israel). However, during the first two years, he was king over all Israel, and David had only the tribe of Judah alone. In the last five years, from the time the war began between the House of Saul and David, from then on the House of Saul continued to weaken at every moment (for day by day people from Israel defected to David one by one, as explained in 1 Chronicles 12:23–24: “For at that time, day by day, men came to David to help him... and these were the numbers of the leaders of the mighty men...” meaning that these came in order during the last five years, one after another, until all the remaining Israelites came over at the death of Ish-bosheth. Regarding this it says there, “And all the rest of Israel were of one heart to make David king”). From that time when the war between them began, although David was not yet considered king of Israel, but only king of Judah, because the majority of Israel had not yet anointed him (and therefore he counted that he reigned seven years over Judah), nevertheless, from then on Ish-bosheth did not reign over all Israel, and he too was counted as having reigned only two years.
And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
verse value 3696
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 57 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁר֩, 3 letters) and the longest is "in·Hebron" (בְּחֶבְר֖וֹן, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "day" (הַיָּמִ֔ים). The root היה appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root מספר ("number") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root שבע ("seven") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַֽיְהִי֙ [and·it·was] (31) + מִסְפַּ֣ר [number] (380) + הַיָּמִ֔ים [day] (105) + אֲשֶׁר֩ [that] (501) + הָיָ֨ה [was] (20) + דָוִ֥ד [David] (14) + מֶ֛לֶךְ [king] (90) + בְּחֶבְר֖וֹן [in·Hebron] (268) + עַל־בֵּ֣ית [over·house·of] (512) + יְהוּדָ֑ה [Judah] (30) + שֶׁ֥בַע [seven] (372) + שָׁנִ֖ים [years] (400) + וְשִׁשָּׁ֥ה [and·six] (611) + חֳדָשִֽׁים [months] (362) = 3696.
Radak
"Seven years and six months." It is found that the kingdom was vacant [without a king] for five years, for Ish-bosheth reigned only two years.
And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
verse value 2480
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 41 letters. The shortest word is "and·he·went·out" (וַיֵּצֵא֙, 4 letters) and the longest is "Ish·Bosheth" (אִֽישׁ־בֹּ֣שֶׁת, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "from·Mahanaim" (מִֽמַּחֲנַ֖יִם), "Gibeon" (גִּבְעֽוֹנָה). The root בין appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Ish·Bosheth" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel); "and·servants·of" (root עבד, 109x in II Samuel); "son·of·Ner" (root בין, 98x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root יצא ("and·he·went·out") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root עבד ("and·servants·of") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'son·of·Saul', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיֵּצֵא֙ [and·he·went·out] (107) + אַבְנֵ֣ר [Abner] (253) + בֶּן־נֵ֔ר [son·of·Ner] (302) + וְעַבְדֵ֖י [and·servants·of] (92) + אִֽישׁ־בֹּ֣שֶׁת [Ish·Bosheth] (1013) + בֶּן־שָׁא֑וּל [son·of·Saul] (389) + מִֽמַּחֲנַ֖יִם [from·Mahanaim] (188) + גִּבְעֽוֹנָה [Gibeon] (136) = 2480.
Radak
From “Mahanaim to Gibeon.” Now I say that after they had made Ish-bosheth king in Mahanaim, before he crossed the Jordan to return to his house, what happened was that Abner went out with the servants of Ish-bosheth to go to Gibeon, which is the land of Benjamin. And Joab and the servants of David went out to meet them, and they encountered each other at the pool of Gibeon. And it appears that Joab’s intention was to fight against them, but he saw that they were numerous, and he refrained, until Abner said, “Let the young men please arise and play before us.”
Malbim
And he went out: He now relates the cause that led to the outbreak of wars between them, after two years had passed since Ish-bosheth’s accession to the throne, at which time Abner went out to Gibeon, which belonged to Benjamin.
And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out; and they met together by the pool of Gibeon, and sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.
verse value 3097
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 78 letters. Notable word values: "these" (אֵ֤לֶּה) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "David" (דָוִד֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Zeruiah" (בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֜ה, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 332: upon·the·pool, upon·the·pool. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·they·met·them" (וַֽיִּפְגְּשׁ֛וּם), "upon·blessing" (עַל־בְּרֵכַ֥ת). The root ברכה appears 3 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "and·servants·of" (root עבד, 109x in II Samuel); "and·Joab" (root יואב, 101x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root יואב ("and·Joab") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root ברכה ("upon·blessing") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'together', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 7 words.
Metzudat David
And they met. These met those, near the pool of Gibeon:
Metzudat Zion
They met. They encountered each other.
The pool. It is a place built of stone and lime, and there the waters gather, and so (Isaiah 36:2): the upper pool.
Malbim
And Joab, etc. – "and they met them by chance," and they sat as brothers together.
And Abner said to Joab: ‘Let the young men, I pray you, arise and play before us.’ And Joab said: ‘Let them arise.’
verse value 2236
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 53 letters. Verse gematria: 2236 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "please" (נָא֙, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·Joab" (אֶל־יוֹאָ֔ב, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 257: and·said, and·said. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "let·them·rise" (יָק֤וּמוּ), "and·let·them·play" (וִישַׂחֲק֖וּ), "before·us" (לְפָנֵ֑ינוּ). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "to·Joab" (root יואב, 101x in II Samuel); "before·us" (root פנים, 68x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root קום ("let·them·rise") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root נא ("please") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'before·us', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֤אמֶר [and·said] (257) + אַבְנֵר֙ [Abner] (253) + אֶל־יוֹאָ֔ב [to·Joab] (50) + יָק֤וּמוּ [let·them·rise] (162) + נָא֙ [please] (51) + הַנְּעָרִ֔ים [the·servants] (375) + וִישַׂחֲק֖וּ [and·let·them·play] (430) + לְפָנֵ֑ינוּ [before·us] (226) + וַיֹּ֥אמֶר [and·said] (257) + יוֹאָ֖ב [Joab] (19) + יָקֻֽמוּ [shall·stand] (156) = 2236.
Radak
"And let them sport." This refers to the manner in which they would playfully engage one another with their swords, to see who knew the ways of war better. And our Sages of blessed memory expounded: Since he made sport with the blood of the youths, he was punished and fell by the sword.
Metzudat David
They played before us. Meaning: they challenged each other to battle in the manner of sport, to see which of them was more skilled in war:
Malbim
(14–17) The Questions: How could it be said, “Let the young men arise and play,” as if this were a matter of frivolity, to shed blood and provoke strife and war without cause? And why did it not say, “And they passed by, twelve in number, from the servants of Saul,” as it is stated elsewhere, “And twelve of the servants of David”?
And Abner said, he was the one who initiated and instigated this matter; and initially, his intention was merely to jest, to display their strength as they wrestled together.
Then they arose and passed over by number: twelve for Benjamin, and for Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
verse value 4544
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 59 letters. The shortest word is "ten" (עָשָׂ֣ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·they·passed·through" (וַיַּעַבְר֣וּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 570: ten, ten. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "in·number" (בְמִסְפָּ֑ר), "for·Benjamin" (לְבִנְיָמִ֗ן), "and·to·Ish" (וּלְאִ֥ישׁ). The root שנים appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "and·to·Ish" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel); "of·the·servants·of" (root עבד, 109x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root עשר ("ten") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root בנימן ("for·Benjamin") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·number', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 10 words. Full calculation: וַיָּקֻ֖מוּ [and·they·arose] (162) + וַיַּעַבְר֣וּ [and·they·passed·through] (294) + בְמִסְפָּ֑ר [in·number] (382) + שְׁנֵ֧ים [two] (400) + עָשָׂ֣ר [ten] (570) + לְבִנְיָמִ֗ן [for·Benjamin] (182) + וּלְאִ֥ישׁ [and·to·Ish] (347) + בֹּ֙שֶׁת֙ [Bosheth] (702) + בֶּן־שָׁא֔וּל [son·of·Saul] (389) + וּשְׁנֵ֥ים [and·two] (406) + עָשָׂ֖ר [ten] (570) + מֵעַבְדֵ֥י [of·the·servants·of] (126) + דָוִֽד [David] (14) = 4544.
Radak
"And to Ish-bosheth." It would have sufficed had it said, "twelve for Ish-bosheth," just as it said, "twelve of the servants of David." Rather, it came to inform that they were from the tribe of Benjamin who went with him to make him king.
Metzudat David
"And they passed over." [I.e.,] the pool of water, for these were on one side and those were on the other side.
Benjamin. From the sons of Benjamin, the servants of Ish-bosheth.
Malbim
And they arose and passed over, that the sons of Benjamin passed over against the sons of Judah, in a manner that they began with strife; and behold, twelve passed over against twelve tribes who were under the command of Ish-Bosheth, one for each tribe. And this is what is written: “twelve” for Benjamin, and “Ish-Bosheth,” for Ish-Bosheth includes under him the rest of the tribes, with Benjamin being the head of all of them. And in opposition to this, it was necessary that there also be twelve from the servants of David.
And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together; wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
verse value 4058
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 70 letters. The shortest word is "man" (אִ֣ישׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·they·caught·hold" (וַֽיַּחֲזִ֜קוּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 281: his·neighbor, his·neighbor. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·they·caught·hold" (וַֽיַּחֲזִ֜קוּ), "in·head·of" (בְּרֹ֣אשׁ), "and·his·sword" (וְחַרְבּוֹ֙). The root רע appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "man" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel); "that" (root הוא, 53x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root רע ("his·neighbor") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root מקום ("to·the·place") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'together', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 7 words.
Rashi
The plot of the rocks. (Targum:) The portion of the slain, named after the swords, as it is said (Psalms 89:44): 'You have also turned back the edge of his sword.'
Radak
“And they fell together.” Each one killed his companion.
"Chalkat hatzurim." Targum Yonatan [renders it]: "achsanat qetilaya" [the portion of the slain]. [Compare] "And Zipporah took a tzor [flint]" [Exodus 4:25] — a tzur whose meaning is a sharp blade. One could also explain it according to its plain sense, like "and the rocks were broken down by Him" [cf. Nahum 1:6], and its [true] interpretation is "the portion of the mighty," for they were mighty men, and they fought with strength, so that none prevailed over his fellow, but they were all slain together, each man by the hand of his brother.
Metzudat David
“His fellow.” One who comes to fight against him:
And his sword. To strike him fatally:
“And they fell together.” This means that they killed one another.
Metzudat Zion
They gripped. They grasped with strength.
The plain of the flints. Meaning: a plain in which they fought with sword points, for cheleket is a matter of plain, as (Genesis 33:19): the parcel of the field, and tzurim is a matter of sharpness, as (Psalms 89:44): You have also turned back the edge of his sword.
Malbim
"And they held fast" – At first, their intention was not to fight with swords; rather, each man held onto the head of his companion, as wrestlers do when grappling together. From this situation arose the fact that each one thrust his sword into the side of his companion, until they fell together — like [the proverb], "The beginning of strife is like one who lets out water" (Proverbs 17:14) [a small start leading to a great outcome]. And through this,
And the battle was very sore that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
verse value 2728
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 56 letters. Notable word values: "slave" (עַבְדֵ֥י) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "hard" (קָשָׁ֥ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "battle" (הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "hard" (קָשָׁ֥ה), "exceedingly" (עַד־מְאֹ֖ד), "and·he·was·smitten" (וַיִּנָּ֤גֶף). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "and·it·was" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel); "and·men·of" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root קשה ("hard") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root נגף ("and·he·was·smitten") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'that', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַתְּהִ֧י [and·it·was] (421) + הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה [battle] (128) + קָשָׁ֥ה [hard] (405) + עַד־מְאֹ֖ד [exceedingly] (119) + בַּיּ֣וֹם [in·the·day] (58) + הַה֑וּא [that] (17) + וַיִּנָּ֤גֶף [and·he·was·smitten] (149) + אַבְנֵר֙ [Abner] (253) + וְאַנְשֵׁ֣י [and·men·of] (367) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל [Israel] (541) + לִפְנֵ֖י [to·face·of] (170) + עַבְדֵ֥י [slave] (86) + דָוִֽד [David] (14) = 2728.
Metzudat David
And the battle grew fierce. Even though at first only a few arose to fight in the manner of sport, the end of the matter was that they all fought with might:
Malbim
"And the battle was very fierce," for after they had come to bloodshed, and from among the combatants who fell, it was not clear who was the victor, therefore the battle was prolonged until it became a very fierce battle; and Abner was struck down, he who was the one who initiated the brawl.
And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel; and Asahel was as light of foot as one of the roes that are in the field.
verse value 3930
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 65 letters. The shortest word is "lightness" (קַ֣ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·they·were·there" (וַיִּֽהְיוּ־שָׁ֗ם, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 412: and·Asahel, and·Asahel. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "lightness" (קַ֣ל), "the·gazelles" (הַצְּבָיִ֖ם). The root עשהאל appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "and·they·were·there" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel); "Joab" (root יואב, 101x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root שלוש ("three") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root צרויה ("Zeruiah") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·Asahel', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַיִּֽהְיוּ־שָׁ֗ם [and·they·were·there] (377) + שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ [three] (635) + בְּנֵ֣י [son] (62) + צְרוּיָ֔ה [Zeruiah] (311) + יוֹאָ֥ב [Joab] (19) + וַאֲבִישַׁ֖י [and·Abishai] (329) + וַעֲשָׂהאֵ֑ל [and·Asahel] (412) + וַֽעֲשָׂהאֵל֙ [and·Asahel] (412) + קַ֣ל [lightness] (130) + בְּרַגְלָ֔יו [in·his·feet] (251) + כְּאַחַ֥ד [as·one] (33) + הַצְּבָיִ֖ם [the·gazelles] (147) + אֲשֶׁ֥ר [that] (501) + בַּשָּׂדֶֽה [in·the·field] (311) = 3930.
Radak
"And Asahel was light on his feet." This teaches that he relied on his swiftness to pursue Abner, which the others did not do, and he did not understand that "the race is not to the swift."
"The gazelles." [Spelled] with only one yod, and the yod of the plural has disappeared from the written text.
Metzudat Zion
The gazelles. From the word tzvi [gazelle], in the plural.
And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
verse value 2974
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 53 letters. The shortest word is "after" (אַחֲרֵ֣י, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·to·the·left" (וְעַֽל־הַשְּׂמֹ֔אול, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 253: Abner, Abner. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·pursued" (וַיִּרְדֹּ֥ף), "and·not·he·turned" (וְלֹא־נָטָ֣ה), "to·the·right" (עַל־הַיָּמִין֙). The root אחר appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·go" (root הלך, 96x in II Samuel); "to·the·right" (root יום, 78x in II Samuel); "after" (root אחר, 61x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root רדף ("and·pursued") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root נטה ("and·not·he·turned") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Abner', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 6 words. Full calculation: וַיִּרְדֹּ֥ף [and·pursued] (300) + עֲשָׂהאֵ֖ל [Asahel] (406) + אַחֲרֵ֣י [after] (219) + אַבְנֵ֑ר [Abner] (253) + וְלֹא־נָטָ֣ה [and·not·he·turned] (101) + לָלֶ֗כֶת [to·go] (480) + עַל־הַיָּמִין֙ [to·the·right] (215) + וְעַֽל־הַשְּׂמֹ֔אול [and·to·the·left] (488) + מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י [from·after] (259) + אַבְנֵֽר [Abner] (253) = 2974.
Ralbag
And behold Asahel was pursuing after Abner to kill him in the war, for he was at the head and the leader of Ish-bosheth, and with his fall the kingship would come to David easily. And Abner had already told him to turn away from behind him and incline either to his right hand or to his left, and seize one of the youths and take that youth's armor for himself, for it was difficult in Abner's eyes to kill Asahel. And when he saw that he did not turn from pursuing behind him, Abner struck him with the butt of the spear in the chomesh (the fifth rib), and it is that when a person is struck there he dies easily, and it is the place where the gall and liver hang, as our Sages explained. And that spear had a point on both sides so that he could strike with it both before him and behind him.
Metzudat David
And did not turn aside. He did not turn aside from behind Abner to go etc.:
Malbim
"And he pursued" — [Scripture] states this in advance, because Abner killed Asahel under the law of a pursuer. [This is so] (1) because he pursued after him; (2) so that you should not say that [the verse] intended specifically Abner, but rather [that he was] like a pursuer in war against anyone he would encounter — for [the text states] "he did not turn... after Abner."
Then Abner looked behind him, and said: ‘Is it you, Asahel?’ And he answered: ‘It is I.’
verse value 2048
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 38 letters. The shortest word is "this" (זֶ֖ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "after·him" (אַֽחֲרָ֔יו, 5 letters). Words sharing gematria 257: and·said, and·said. The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "after·him" (root אחר, 61x in II Samuel); "Abner" (root אבנר, 46x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Asahel', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיִּ֤פֶן [and·turned] (146) + אַבְנֵר֙ [Abner] (253) + אַֽחֲרָ֔יו [after·him] (225) + וַיֹּ֕אמֶר [and·said] (257) + הַאַתָּ֥ה [are·you] (411) + זֶ֖ה [this] (12) + עֲשָׂהאֵ֑ל [Asahel] (406) + וַיֹּ֖אמֶר [and·said] (257) + אָנֹֽכִי [I] (81) = 2048.
And Abner said to him: ‘Turn you aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay you hold on one of the young men, and take you his armour.’ But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.
verse value 3999
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 81 letters. Notable word values: "to·him" (ל֣וֹ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "to·him" (ל֣וֹ, 2 letters) and the longest is "upon·right" (עַל־יְמִֽינְךָ֙, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 50: to·you, to·you. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "stretch·out" (נְטֵ֤ה), "upon·right" (עַל־יְמִֽינְךָ֙), "upon·the left" (עַל־שְׂמֹאלֶ֔ךָ). The root לך appears 2 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "upon·the left" (root על, 121x in II Samuel); "from·after·him" (root אחר, 61x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root לך ("to·you") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root ימין ("upon·right") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'what·is·stripped·off', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 4 words.
Radak
"And take with you one of the youths." – To accompany you, so that he may return with you. And if you are afraid of him:
"Take for yourself his equipment" – meaning: his weapons of war; and also, you shall not kill him.
Metzudat David
Turn aside. For one who pursues after another and turns back from behind him, behold it is reckoned as disgrace. Therefore Abner said to him: if for the sake of honor you do not wish to turn back from behind me, do this: turn to your right etc., so that it would appear that you are not pursuing after me but after another youth, and indeed seize one of the youths but do not kill him, only take his gear, and all would think that you pursued after him and caught him:
Metzudat Zion
His garment. So is called the garment, and so (Judges 14:19): and he took their garments.
And he refused. And he did not wish.
Malbim
“Nateh,” 3. Abner warned him, and since it was a disgrace for a warrior to return empty-handed from battle, he said to him, “Lean aside to the side and seize for yourself one of the youths, so that it will appear as though you pursued him to take his spoil.”
And Abner said again to Asahel: ‘Turn you aside from following me; wherefore should I smite you to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother?’
verse value 2757
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 63 letters. The shortest word is "to·you" (לְךָ֖, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·Asahel" (אֶל־עֲשָׂהאֵ֔ל, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 50: to·you, to·Joab. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "to·Asahel" (אֶל־עֲשָׂהאֵ֔ל), "turn·aside" (ס֥וּר), "should·I·strike·you" (אַכֶּ֙כָּה֙). 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "to·Asahel" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel); "to·Joab" (root יואב, 101x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root יסף ("and·he·continued") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root עוד ("again") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'from·after·me', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 8 words.
Radak
"Why should I strike you down to the ground?" – As its Targum [renders it]: "I will kill you and cast you down to the earth."
“And how shall I lift up my face? And how shall I raise my face to your brother to look upon him? Lest I be ashamed before him if I put you to death.”
Metzudat David
"To the ground." That you would fall dead to the ground:
"And how can I lift my face?"—to gaze upon him [Joab], for surely I would be ashamed in his presence.
However he refused to turn aside; wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him in the groin, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place; and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still. .
verse value 7062
Insights
Verse structure: 21 words, 102 letters. The shortest word is "there" (שָׁ֧ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·the·place" (אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם֩, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 473: spear, spear. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "with·hind-end·of" (בְּאַחֲרֵ֨י), "and·he·fell·there" (וַיִּפׇּל־שָׁ֖ם), "that·fell" (אֲשֶׁר־נָ֨פַל). The root אחר appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·the·groin" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel); "that·fell" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "and·it·was" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root תחת ("in·his·place") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·his·place', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 8 words.
Rashi
Into the fifth. Like a fifth wall — the place where the gall and liver hang there (Sanhedrin 49a); and Yonatan translated [this] as: 'at the side of his thigh.'
And he died in his place. (Targum:) And he died in his place.
Radak
“Behind the spear.” There are spears whose wooden shaft ends in a point, and into which is set an iron point, designed to be thrust into the ground, as it says of Saul, “and his spear was stuck in the ground.” At times, one strikes with the back of the spear, because one does not turn toward the pursuer to strike him with the blade of the spear, but rather strikes with the back of the spear. And so Abner did: he did not turn toward Asahel, but struck him with the back of the spear.
"to the fifth [rib]." Our Rabbis of blessed memory interpreted this as "the fifth side," namely the place where the gall bladder and liver are suspended. And Targum Yonatan translates it as "on the side of his thighs."
"Tachtav" (beneath him). In his place, as it is said, "and no man rose up from beneath him" (Exodus 10:23), and the meaning is that he did not walk nor move from his place after he was struck, but rather he died immediately.
"And they stood." When the servants of David heard of the killing of Asahel, they pursued after Abner. And when they arrived at that place where Asahel had died, they stood still; but Joab and Abishai did not stand over him, but rather pursued after Abner.
Ralbag
And behold he pierced him with that spear until the spear came out from behind him, and he fell there and died in his place. Or perhaps the intention in his saying 'in the chomesh' is opposite the heart, and it is from the matter of 'And the children of Israel went up armed,' and the intention in it is armed with weapons, and so the heart is the weapon of the person, for from it comes the natural heat that preserves the person's existence for the time in which it is possible for him to live.
Metzudat David
"With the back end of the spear." With the sharpened iron point that is on it, made to sink into the ground:
To the fifth part. To the fifth rib, which is over the heart, and our Sages of blessed memory said (Sanhedrin 49a): Opposite the place where the liver and gallbladder are suspended.
"From behind him." For it [the spear] passed through his body from one side to the other.
All who come. From the men of David:
"And they stood." They stood in alarm and ceased from pursuing.
Metzudat Zion
In his place.
Malbim
"And he refused" — earlier [the text] said "he was not willing." For "not willing" is [a matter] of the heart, while "refusing" is with the mouth. At first he was not willing in his heart. But now, when he [Abner] said to him, "Why should I strike you to the ground?" — he [Asahel] became afraid in his heart and was willing in his heart to turn aside; only with his mouth did he say that he refuses, because it was now a disgrace for him, since he [Abner] had frightened him. And he struck him — in accordance with the law of a pursuer, as [explained] above. Yet he [Abner] was not able to spare him by [striking] one of his limbs, for he struck him with the reverse end of the spear, which is not as dangerous as if he had struck him with the blade; but because he [Asahel] was behind Abner, and [Abner] could not see, it happened that he struck him in the belly, and the spear came out from behind him, because he was so close to Abner. And through this he fell and died on the spot, and did not even twitch from that place.
But Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner; and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
verse value 3808
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 71 letters. The shortest word is "went·in" (בָּ֔אָה, 3 letters) and the longest is "upon·the·face·of·Giah" (עַל־פְּנֵי־גִ֔יחַ, 8 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·they·pursued" (וַֽיִּרְדְּפ֛וּ), "and·the·sun" (וְהַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ), "until·hill" (עַד־גִּבְעַ֣ת). The root בוא appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "went·in" (root בוא, 131x in II Samuel); "Joab" (root יואב, 101x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root שמש ("and·the·sun") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root הם ("and·they") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Abner', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 11 words.
Radak
"And the sun set." When they reached Givat Amah [the Hill of Ammah], the sun set.
"Givat Amah." The hill is called so on account of a known matter among them; perhaps the water channel was beside the hill.
"Giach." [It is] the name of a place.
Ralbag
And behold Joab and his brother Abishai were pursuing after Abner who killed their brother Asahel. And the sun set, and Abner was strengthened with the children of Benjamin who gathered to him, and he was also with them in a strong place, for they were on the top of a hill. Then Abner called to Joab that they turn away from pursuing each their brother, for if they should conquer or be conquered, it would already be bitter in the end, as was explained concerning the matter of the tribes' war with Benjamin concerning the concubine at Gibeah. And Joab answered him that Abner was the cause of the war in what he said, 'Let the youths arise and play before us.'
Metzudat David
And they pursued. But Joab and Abishai pursued further:
"Way." They pursued along the way through the wilderness of Gibeon, and came to the hill of Ammah.
Metzudat Zion
Set. Went down, as (Genesis 28:11): for the sun had set.
Malbim
"And they pursued" – this implies that even though many had gathered upon the corpse of the slain, the blood-avengers pursued (Joab) [Abner]:
And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill.
verse value 3015
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 54 letters. The shortest word is "upon" (עַ֥ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·Benjamin" (בְנֵֽי־בִנְיָמִן֙, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 409: one, one. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·they·gathered·themselves" (וַיִּֽתְקַבְּצ֤וּ), "sons·of·Benjamin" (בְנֵֽי־בִנְיָמִן֙), "to·a·band" (לַאֲגֻדָּ֣ה). The root אחד appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·they·were" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel); "upon" (root על, 121x in II Samuel); "sons·of·Benjamin" (root בן, 76x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root קבץ ("and·they·gathered·themselves") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'one', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיִּֽתְקַבְּצ֤וּ [and·they·gathered·themselves] (614) + בְנֵֽי־בִנְיָמִן֙ [sons·of·Benjamin] (214) + אַחֲרֵ֣י [after] (219) + אַבְנֵ֔ר [Abner] (253) + וַיִּהְי֖וּ [and·they·were] (37) + לַאֲגֻדָּ֣ה [to·a·band] (43) + אֶחָ֑ת [one] (409) + וַיַּ֣עַמְד֔וּ [and·they·stood] (136) + עַ֥ל [upon] (100) + רֹאשׁ־גִּבְעָ֖ה [head·hill] (581) + אֶחָֽת [one] (409) = 3015.
Radak
"And they gathered together." When they saw that they were being pursued, they gathered those who had been going first, and came after Abner, and became one united group to fight against Joab. And the meaning of "a group" (agudah) is a faction gathered together, as if they were bound and tied to one another.
Metzudat David
After Abner. To save him from Joab and Abishai:
Metzudat Zion
As one company. Meaning: as one group, as (Amos 9:6): and His company He set upon the earth.
Hill. Mountain.
Malbim
"And they gathered themselves" — then the sons of Benjamin prepared themselves for battle. In what sense did they gather themselves? First, in that they assembled into a united group, not scattered; second, in that they took their stand on the hilltop, from which it was easier to achieve victory.
Then Abner called to Joab, and said: ‘Shall the sword devour for ever? do you know not that it will be bitterness in the end? how long shall it be then, ere you bid the people return from following their brethren?’
verse value 5222
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 86 letters. The shortest word is "sword" (חֶ֔רֶב, 3 letters) and the longest is "in·the·last" (בָּאַֽחֲרוֹנָ֑ה, 7 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "to·the·ever" (הֲלָנֶ֙צַח֙), "you·knew" (יָדַ֔עְתָּה), "that·bitter" (כִּי־מָרָ֥ה). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "it·will·be" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel); "that·bitter" (root כי, 110x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root אכל ("will·eat") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root אחרון ("in·the·last") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·the·last', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 6 words.
Radak
"Shall the sword devour forever?" Targum Yonatan renders ["forever"] as "la'afresh," and so too he renders "if He bears a grudge forever" as "la'afresh." The meaning of "forever" is well known, for it is like "eternally." And the explanation of "the sword shall devour" is: "your sword shall devour flesh forever." Have I not known that your desire is forever for war, [and] it will be bitter in the end?
Metzudat David
For ever. And will the sword go on slaying among us, man against his brother, forever?
"Do you not know?" And do you not understand that the end will be bitter, for either I or you will die.
Metzudat Zion
Forever. For ever.
And how long. Until what time.
Malbim
"Must the sword devour forever?" [Abner] said: (1) Is not the purpose of war to see who will prevail? And once that goal has been achieved, why continue to fight further? Is this indeed the purpose — that the sword should devour forever? (2) Is it not that where, through war and bloodshed, some purpose is achieved, then even though the shedding of blood is a bitter thing, nevertheless in the end they attain something sweet, which is the purpose for which they fought? But to kill and destroy lives with no useful purpose — surely it will be bitter in the end; you will not attain, at the end of the war, honey and honeycomb to sweeten the bitterness of death. (3) For if they do this in a war against enemies — to destroy and exterminate — this is not so in a war between brothers. And this is what is written: "How long will you not tell the troops to turn back from following their brothers?"
And Joab said: ‘As God lives, if you hadst not spoken, surely then only after the morning the people had gone away, every one from following his brother.’
verse value 2338
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 55 letters. Notable word values: "living" (חַ֚י) = 18, chai, 'life'. The shortest word is "living" (חַ֚י, 2 letters) and the longest is "God" (הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 30: for, for. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·Lamed" (לוּלֵ֖א), "lifted" (נַעֲלָ֣ה). The root כי appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "man" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel); "for" (root כי, 110x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root אלהים ("God") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root אז ("then") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'you·spoke', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 8 words.
Rashi
Had you not spoken. If you had spoken thus, 'were it not that' is like 'would that'; and there is another way to explain it literally: were it not that you spoke what you said (above, verse 14): 'Let the young men arise and play.'
Radak
"For had you not spoken": Had you not said, "Let the young men arise and play before us," this battle would not have taken place today, and you initiated this battle, not I. And already, from the morning until now, the people would have gone up [in pursuit], each man after his brother, had you not spoken. And when Joab saw that he could not prevail against them, because they had all gathered together, he blew the shofar so that they would stand still and not pursue. And so he did, and all the people who were with Joab stood still.
Metzudat David
"Lulei dibarta." If you had not spoken from the beginning: "Let the young men arise, etc.":
"For then, from the morning." From the time we met, we were separating from one another, each going his own way, for I had no intention from then on to fight against you.
Metzudat Zion
Had you not. If not.
Departed. A matter of departure, as (Numbers 9:21): and the cloud departed.
Malbim
The Questions: According to the explanation of the commentators, the word "lulei" [meaning "were it not for"] is not correct here.
And he said: He replied to him, "Is it not so that I did not begin the quarrel, but rather you did? And had you not spoken ('Let the young men arise and play before us'), would we not already have parted ways since the morning, each man from his brother — for every man would have gone on his way, and the quarrel would not have begun at all."
So Joab blew the horn, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
verse value 3057
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 60 letters. The shortest word is "again" (ע֖וֹד, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·not·they·pursued" (וְלֹא־יִרְדְּפ֥וּ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 80: again, again. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "in·the·horn" (בַּשּׁוֹפָ֔ר), "and·not·they·pursued" (וְלֹא־יִרְדְּפ֥וּ), "and·not·they·continued" (וְלֹא־יָסְפ֥וּ). The root עוד appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Joab" (root יואב, 101x in II Samuel); "all·the·people" (root כל, 95x in II Samuel); "Israel" (root ישראל, 77x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root תקע ("and·blew") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root שופר ("in·the·horn") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיִּתְקַ֤ע [and·blew] (586) + יוֹאָב֙ [Joab] (19) + בַּשּׁוֹפָ֔ר [in·the·horn] (588) + וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙ [and·they·stood] (136) + כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם [all·the·people] (165) + וְלֹא־יִרְדְּפ֥וּ [and·not·they·pursued] (337) + ע֖וֹד [again] (80) + אַחֲרֵ֣י [after] (219) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [Israel] (541) + וְלֹא־יָסְפ֥וּ [and·not·they·continued] (193) + ע֖וֹד [again] (80) + לְהִלָּחֵֽם [to·fight] (113) = 3057.
Radak
"And they shall not pursue." This is like "and they did not pursue," where the future tense is used in place of the past tense, and there are many similar cases.
Ralbag
And behold Joab caused that the people stood and did not pursue after the children of Israel, and did not continue to fight after this at that time. But each of the factions made an effort to return to their land quickly to escape from the other faction if it should pursue after them. And for this Abner and his faction went all the night, and so was the matter with Joab and his men.
Metzudat David
And he blew the horn. To signal that they should stop and not pursue any longer, and they heeded him and ceased fighting:
Malbim
And they did not pursue after the fleeing scattered ones, nor did they fight with the host that stood ready for battle.
And Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah; and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim.
verse value 3041
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 67 letters. The shortest word is "all" (כֹּ֖ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·Bithron" (כׇּל־הַבִּתְר֔וֹן, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "in·the·arabah" (בָּעֲרָבָ֔ה), "all·Bithron" (כׇּל־הַבִּתְר֔וֹן). The root הלך appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·his·men" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel); "and·they·came" (root בוא, 131x in II Samuel); "they·went" (root הלך, 96x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root ערבה ("in·the·arabah") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root ליל ("night") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'that', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 6 words. Full calculation: וְאַבְנֵ֣ר [and·Abner] (259) + וַאֲנָשָׁ֗יו [and·his·men] (373) + הָֽלְכוּ֙ [they·went] (61) + בָּעֲרָבָ֔ה [in·the·arabah] (279) + כֹּ֖ל [all] (50) + הַלַּ֣יְלָה [night] (80) + הַה֑וּא [that] (17) + וַיַּעַבְר֣וּ [and·they·passed·through] (294) + אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן [Jordan] (670) + וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ [and·they·went] (72) + כׇּל־הַבִּתְר֔וֹן [all·Bithron] (713) + וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ [and·they·came] (25) + מַחֲנָֽיִם [Mahanaim] (148) = 3041.
Rashi
The Bithron. The name of a district.
Radak
"Kol HaBitron" [all of Bithron]. This is the name of a district and region across the Jordan, so called due to a matter known to them.
Metzudat David
All the night. For he feared Joab, lest he fall upon him suddenly:
Metzudat Zion
In the Arabah. In the plain.
Bithron. The name of a district.
Malbim
And despite all this, the two camps were guarded so that they would not lodge for the night, for Abner walked through the Arabah all night long.
And Joab returned from following Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.
verse value 4027
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 58 letters. The shortest word is "returned" (שָׁ֚ב, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·the·people" (אֶת־כׇּל־הָעָ֑ם, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·he·gathered" (וַיִּקְבֹּ֖ץ), "and·there·lacked" (וַיִּפָּ֨קְד֜וּ), "nine·ten" (תִּשְׁעָה־עָשָׂ֥ר). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "man" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel); "of·the·servants·of" (root עבד, 109x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root פקד ("and·there·lacked") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'all·the·people', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 6 words. Full calculation: וְיוֹאָ֗ב [and·Joab] (25) + שָׁ֚ב [returned] (302) + מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י [from·after] (259) + אַבְנֵ֔ר [Abner] (253) + וַיִּקְבֹּ֖ץ [and·he·gathered] (208) + אֶת־כׇּל־הָעָ֑ם [all·the·people] (566) + וַיִּפָּ֨קְד֜וּ [and·there·lacked] (206) + מֵעַבְדֵ֥י [of·the·servants·of] (126) + דָוִ֛ד [David] (14) + תִּשְׁעָה־עָשָׂ֥ר [nine·ten] (1345) + אִ֖ישׁ [man] (311) + וַעֲשָׂהאֵֽל [and·Asahel] (412) = 4027.
Rashi
Nineteen men and Asahel. Was not Asahel included among David's servants, and why was he singled out? Because he was equal to all of them together. And so (Joshua 2:1): 'Go, spy out the land and Jericho'; and so (I Kings 11:1): 'And King Solomon loved many foreign women, and the daughter of Pharaoh.'
Radak
"And he gathered all the people together." To take a census of them, to see who was missing from among them.
"And they were missing." [The word means] they were lacking, as in "and not a man of us was missing."
"Nineteen men and Asahel." Since he was more distinguished than the nineteen, they did not include him with them, but wrote him separately.
Ralbag
And behold it was from David's success that not more than twenty of his men died, and of Abner's men three hundred and sixty men died. And so the matter continued all the days of the war's duration between the house of Saul and the house of David, for David was growing stronger and the house of Saul was growing weaker.
Metzudat David
And Asahel. Since he was more distinguished than all the rest, he was not included with them:
Metzudat Zion
They fell short. Were missing, as (there 31:49): and no man was missing from among them.
Malbim
(30–31) "And Joab, etc." and "the servants of David" (when you exclude the twelve men who were struck at the time of the wrestling-match, and [exclude] Asahel), seven were struck from Judah, and from Benjamin three hundred and sixty died, besides those who were wounded; and according to this, it was one against fifty, and it was an extraordinary victory, the like of which had not been heard.
But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, even of Abner’s men—three hundred and threescore men died.
verse value 3441
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 45 letters. The shortest word is "David" (דָוִ֗ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "three·hundred" (שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵא֧וֹת, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·in·men·of" (וּבְאַנְשֵׁ֖י), "three·hundred" (שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵא֧וֹת), "sixty" (וְשִׁשִּׁ֛ים). The root איש appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "and·in·men·of" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel); "and·servants·of" (root עבד, 109x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Abner', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 4 words. Full calculation: וְעַבְדֵ֣י [and·servants·of] (92) + דָוִ֗ד [David] (14) + הִכּוּ֙ [struck] (31) + מִבִּנְיָמִ֔ן [from·Benjamin] (192) + וּבְאַנְשֵׁ֖י [and·in·men·of] (369) + אַבְנֵ֑ר [Abner] (253) + שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵא֧וֹת [three·hundred] (1077) + וְשִׁשִּׁ֛ים [sixty] (656) + אִ֖ישׁ [man] (311) + מֵֽתוּ [died] (446) = 3441.
Metzudat David
Of Benjamin. And he returns to explain who [is meant by] 'of Benjamin' — the men of Abner:
Metzudat Zion
They died. Like 'and they died', and it relates to 'they smote', to say they smote of Benjamin and they died.
And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and the day broke upon them at Hebron.
verse value 3927
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 71 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֖ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "Asahel" (אֶת־עֲשָׂהאֵ֔ל, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 19: his·father, Joab. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·they·buried·him" (וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻ֙הוּ֙), "and·it·grew·light" (וַיֵּאֹ֥ר). The root קבר appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "and·his·men" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel); "Joab" (root יואב, 101x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root אב ("his·father") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root אור ("and·it·grew·light") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'bread', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 7 words.
Radak
"And day broke upon them in Hebron." This means that when the light of day broke in the morning, they were in Hebron.
Metzudat David
"And they went all night." For he too was afraid of Abner, lest he kill him to remove the fear from upon himself, so that he would not have to redeem the blood of his brother.
And it was light. When they arrived at Hebron, the morning dawned for them:
Metzudat Zion
Bethlehem. In Bethlehem.
And it dawned. From the word light.
Malbim
"And they carried [him]" — they too did not lodge for the night, as stated above.
Ralbag
Metzudat Zion
Malbim