II Samuel 2:32
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Later, they took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
On the way back, David's men took up the body of Asahel, and buried it in his father's grave at Bethlehem. They proceeded thence towards Hebron, marching the whole night, so that they reached Hebron itself at daybreak. "It got light to them (i.e., the day dawned) at Hebron."
Open source ↗David had paid due respect to the memory of Saul his prince and Jonathan his friend, and what he did was as much his praise as theirs; he is now considering what is to be done next. Saul is dead, now therefore David arise. I. By direction from God he went up to Hebron, and was there anointed king (Sa2 2:1-4). II. He returned thanks to the men of Jabesh-Gilead for burying Saul (Sa2 2:5-7). III. Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, is set up in opposition to him (Sa2 2:8-11). IV. A warm encounter happens between David's party and Ishbosheth's, in which, 1. Twelve of each side engaged hand to hand and were all slain (Sa2 2:12-16). 2. Saul's party was beaten (Sa2 2:17). 3. Asahel, on David's side, was slain by Abner (Sa2 2:18-23). 4. Joab, at Abner's request, sounds a retreat, (Sa2 2:24-28). 5. Abner makes the best of his way (Sa2 2:29), and the loss on both sides is computed (Sa2 2:30-32). So that here we have an account of a civil war in Israel, which, in process of time, ended in the complete settlement of David on the throne.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
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And he was buried in the tomb that he had cut out for himself in the City of David. They laid him on a bier that was full of spices and various blended perfumes; then they made a great fire in his honor.
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.
And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David. And his son Jehoram reigned in his place.
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
“Whose son are you, young man?” asked Saul. “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem,” David replied.