Matthew Henry Presbyterian @wholebiblehenry

Here is, I. A rivalship between two kings - David, whom God made king, and Ishbosheth, whom Abner made king. One would have thought, when Saul was slain, and all his sons that had sense and spirit enough to take the field with him, David would come to the throne without any opposition, since all Israel knew, not only how he had signalized himself, but...

Commenting on 2 Samuel 2:8-17

John Gill Reformed Baptist @doctorgill

Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin,.... Whom Abner had picked out of that tribe, being his own, and whom he knew to be stout and courageous men, and closely attached to him. It seems by this as if Abner's men: which pertained to Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, passed over the pool of Gibeon unto Joab's men; so forward were...

Keil & Delitzsch Lutheran @keilanddelitzsch

2Sa 2:14-16 Abner then proposed to Joab that the contest should be decided by a single combat, probably for the purpose of avoiding an actual civil war. “Let the young men arise and wrestle before us.” שׂחק, to joke or play, is used here to denote the war-play of single combat.

Commenting on 2 Samuel 2:14-16