And the battle was very fierce that day. And Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.
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
And there was a very sore battle that day,.... When the twenty four men fell together, and no decision could be made thereby, or any triumph on either side, both armies drew up in battle array, and fought very furiously: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David; the army under him had the worst of it, and were...
And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David. (k) After that these four and twenty were slain.