2 Samuel 2:13
New International Version
Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side.

New Living Translation
About the same time, Joab son of Zeruiah led David’s troops out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. The two groups sat down there, facing each other from opposite sides of the pool.

English Standard Version
And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. And they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.

Berean Standard Bible
So Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. And the two groups took up positions on opposite sides of the pool.

King James Bible
And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.

New King James Version
And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. So they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.

New American Standard Bible
And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, Abner’s men on the one side of the pool and Joab’s men on the other side of the pool.

NASB 1995
And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, one on the one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.

NASB 1977
And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, one on the one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, one on the one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.

Amplified Bible
Joab [David’s nephew] the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David also went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. They sat down, with one group on one side of the pool and the other group on the other side of the pool.

Christian Standard Bible
So Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s soldiers marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. The two groups took up positions on opposite sides of the pool.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s soldiers marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. The two groups took up positions on opposite sides of the pool.

American Standard Version
And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.

Contemporary English Version
Meanwhile, Joab the son of Zeruiah was leading David's soldiers, and the two groups met at the pool in Gibeon. Abner and his men sat down on one side of the pool, while Joab and his men sat on the other side.

English Revised Version
And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Zeruiah's son Joab and David's officers also left [Hebron]. Both groups met at the pool of Gibeon. They sat down there, one group on one side of the pool and the other group on the other side of the pool.

Good News Translation
Joab, whose mother was Zeruiah, and David's other officials met them at the pool, where they all sat down, one group on one side of the pool and the other group on the opposite side.

International Standard Version
Zeruiah's son Joab and some of David's staff went out to meet them at the pool of Gibeon. One side encamped on one side of the pool while the other encamped on the other side of the pool.

Majority Standard Bible
So Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. And the two groups took up positions on opposite sides of the pool.

NET Bible
Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David also went out and confronted them at the pool of Gibeon. One group stationed themselves on one side of the pool, and the other group on the other side of the pool.

New Heart English Bible
Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.

World English Bible
Joab the son of Zeruiah and David’s servants went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Joab son of Zeruiah, and servants of David, have gone out, and they meet by the pool of Gibeon together, and sit down, these by the pool on this [side], and these by the pool on that [side].

Young's Literal Translation
And Joab son of Zeruiah, and servants of David, have gone out, and they meet by the pool of Gibeon together, and sit down, these by the pool on this side, and these by the pool on that.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joab son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, will go forth and meet them at the pool of Gibeon together: and these will sit by the pool from hence, and those by the pool from thence.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Joab the son of Sarvia, and the servants of David went out, and met them by the pool of Gabaon. And when they were come together, they sat down over against one another: the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and the youths of David, went out and met them beside the pool of Gibeon. And when they had convened together, they sat down opposite one another: these on one side of the pool, and those on the other side.

New American Bible
Joab, son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David also set out and encountered them at the pool of Gibeon. And they sat down, one group on one side of the pool and the other on the opposite side.

New Revised Standard Version
Joab son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat on one side of the pool, while the other sat on the other side of the pool.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Joab the son of Zoriah and the men of David went out and met the young men together in Gibeon; and they sat down, these young men on the one side and the other young men on the other.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yuab, son of Tsuria, and the men of David went out and they met with the young men in Gebuun as one, and these young men sat down here, and those young men sat there
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joab the son of Saruia, and the servants of David, went forth from Chebron, and met them at the fountain of Gabaon, at the same place: and these sat down by the fountain on this side, and those by the fountain on that side.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
War Between the Houses of David and Saul
12One day Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13So Joab son of Zeruiah, along with the servants of David, marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. And the two camps took up positions on opposite sides of the pool. 14Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” “Let them get up,” Joab replied.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 17:1-3
Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim. / Saul and the men of Israel assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah, arraying themselves for battle against the Philistines. / The Philistines stood on one hill and the Israelites stood on another, with the valley between them.

1 Samuel 30:1-3
On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag, and the Amalekites had raided the Negev, attacked Ziklag, and burned it down. / They had taken captive the women and all who were there, both young and old. They had not killed anyone, but had carried them off as they went on their way. / When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned down and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.

2 Samuel 3:1
Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2 Samuel 5:1-3
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. / Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’” / So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel.

1 Kings 2:5-6
Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. / So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

1 Chronicles 12:23-25
Now these are the numbers of men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him, in accordance with the word of the LORD: / From Judah: 6,800 armed troops bearing shields and spears. / From Simeon: 7,100 mighty men of valor, ready for battle.

1 Chronicles 12:38-40
All these men of war, arrayed for battle, came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. And all the rest of the Israelites were of one mind to make David king. / They spent three days there eating and drinking with David, for their relatives had provided for them. / And their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—abundant supplies of flour, fig cakes and raisin cakes, wine and oil, oxen and sheep. Indeed, there was joy in Israel.

Psalm 60:1-3
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A Miktam of David for instruction. When he fought Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and struck down 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. You have rejected us, O God; You have broken us; You have been angry; restore us! / You have shaken the land and torn it open. Heal its fractures, for it is quaking. / You have shown Your people hardship; we are staggered from the wine You made us drink.

Psalm 108:10-12
Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? / Have You not rejected us, O God? Will You no longer march out, O God, with our armies? / Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.

Isaiah 9:5-7
For every trampling boot of battle and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. / For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. / Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Matthew 10:34-36
Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. / For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. / A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

Luke 14:31-32
Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand? / And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace.

John 18:36
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”

Romans 12:18
If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.


Treasury of Scripture

And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.

Joab

2 Samuel 2:18
And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

2 Samuel 8:16
And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

2 Samuel 20:23
Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:

together [heb] them together

Jeremiah 41:12
Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon.

Jump to Previous
David David's Face Facing Gibeon Group Joab Jo'ab Met Opposite Pool Position Sat Servants Side Together Zeruiah
Jump to Next
David David's Face Facing Gibeon Group Joab Jo'ab Met Opposite Pool Position Sat Servants Side Together Zeruiah
2 Samuel 2
1. David, by God's direction, with his company goes up to Hebron
4. where he is made king of Judah
5. He commends them of Jabesh Gilead for their king of Israel
8. Abner makes Ishbosheth king of Israel
12. A mortal skirmish between twelve of Abner's and twelve of Joab's men.
18. Asahel is slain
25. At Abner's motion, Joab sounds a retreat
32. Asahel's burial














So Joab son of Zeruiah
Joab, a prominent military leader, was the son of Zeruiah, David's sister, making him David's nephew. His role as a commander is significant throughout David's reign. Joab's actions often reflect his loyalty to David, but also his own ambitions and sometimes ruthless nature. His familial connection to David highlights the importance of kinship and loyalty in the political and military structures of ancient Israel.

and the servants of David
The "servants of David" refers to David's loyal followers and warriors. This group was composed of men who had been with David during his time as a fugitive from Saul, and they were deeply committed to him. Their loyalty was crucial in establishing David's rule over Judah and eventually all of Israel. This phrase underscores the theme of loyalty and divine favor that runs throughout David's story.

marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon
The pool of Gibeon was a significant landmark, likely a large reservoir or water source, which served as a strategic meeting point. Gibeon itself was a notable city, historically allied with Israel since the time of Joshua (Joshua 9). The location suggests a planned confrontation, as water sources were vital and often contested in ancient times. This setting foreshadows the ensuing conflict and highlights the strategic considerations of ancient warfare.

And the two groups took up positions on opposite sides of the pool
This phrase indicates a standoff, with both sides preparing for a potential battle. The positioning on opposite sides of the pool suggests a tense and deliberate confrontation, reflecting the divided loyalties within the kingdom following Saul's death. This division is emblematic of the broader struggle for power and legitimacy in Israel, as David's forces face those loyal to Saul's house. The scene sets the stage for the conflict that will ultimately lead to David's consolidation of power over all Israel.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Joab son of Zeruiah
Joab is a key military leader for David and the son of Zeruiah, David's sister. He plays a significant role in the power struggles during David's reign.

2. Servants of David
These are the men loyal to David, who is anointed king over Judah at this time. They are involved in the conflict between the house of David and the house of Saul.

3. Pool of Gibeon
A significant location for the confrontation between the forces of David and those of Ish-bosheth, Saul's son. It serves as a neutral ground for the meeting of the two groups.

4. Abner son of Ner
Although not mentioned in this specific verse, Abner is the commander of Saul's army and plays a crucial role in the events surrounding this meeting.

5. Conflict between the houses of David and Saul
This event is part of the larger account of the struggle for power in Israel following Saul's death, highlighting the division between the northern tribes and Judah.
Teaching Points
Leadership and Loyalty
Joab's role as a leader under David emphasizes the importance of loyalty and strategic leadership in times of conflict. Believers are encouraged to be loyal to godly leadership and to seek wisdom in their own leadership roles.

Conflict Resolution
The meeting at the pool of Gibeon represents an attempt at resolving conflict. Christians are called to be peacemakers and to seek reconciliation in their relationships, reflecting Jesus' teachings in the Beatitudes.

Divine Sovereignty
The ongoing struggle between the houses of David and Saul illustrates God's sovereignty in establishing His chosen leaders. Believers can trust in God's ultimate plan and timing, even amidst human conflict.

Unity in the Body of Christ
The division between the tribes of Israel serves as a reminder of the importance of unity within the church. Christians are encouraged to work towards unity and harmony, as emphasized in Paul's letters to the early churches.(13) Joab the son of Zeruiah.--Zeruiah was David's sister (1Chronicles 2:16), and Joab the most prominent of her three distinguished sons. Subsequently, by his successful leading of the forlorn hope in the siege of Jerusalem (1Chronicles 11:6; comp. 2Samuel 5:8), he became permanently established as commanaer-in-chief of David's army. He was undoubtedly among "the brethren of David" who came down to him at the cave of Adullam (1Samuel 22:1), though he is not mentioned by name, like his brother Abishai (1Samuel 26:6-9), in the narrative of David's outlawry.

The pool of Gibeon is a large reservoir or tank, arranged to store the overflow from a subterranean reservoir fed by a spring in the rocky hill-side. Its ruins still remain, about 120 feet long by 100 broad. The hostile forces halted in full sight of each other on the opposite sides of the pool. . . .

Verse 13. - The pool of Gibson. As Gibeon, which lay about six miles northwest from Jerusalem, was twenty-six miles distant from Hebron, and about the same distance from Mahauaim, it is plain that David knew of Abner's march. Possibly he had been summoned to yield his kingdom up to Ishbosheth as the rightful lord, but, while taking no measures to extend his rule, he felt himself justified in defending his election to be king ever Judah. The pool of Gibeon is described by Robinson ('Researches,' 2:136) as "an open tank about a hundred and twenty feet in length and a hundred in breadth, surrounded by a grove of olive trees. Above it, excavated in the rock, is a subterranean reservoir, to receive the water from a copious spring, from which the overflow descends into the tank below." As neither party was willing to shed the first blood in a civil war, of which the Philistines would reap the benefit, they both halted in sight of one another on opposite sides of the hill, with the tank below them in the middle.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So Joab
וְיוֹאָ֨ב (wə·yō·w·’āḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3097: Joab -- 'the LORD is father', three Israelites

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Zeruiah,
צְרוּיָ֜ה (ṣə·rū·yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6870: Zeruiah -- an Israelite woman

along with the servants
וְעַבְדֵ֤י (wə·‘aḇ·ḏê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

of David,
דָוִד֙ (ḏā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

marched out
יָֽצְא֔וּ (yā·ṣə·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

and met them
וַֽיִּפְגְּשׁ֛וּם (way·yip̄·gə·šūm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6298: To come in contact with, to concur

by
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the pool
בְּרֵכַ֥ת (bə·rê·ḵaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1295: A pool, pond

of Gibeon.
גִּבְע֖וֹן (giḇ·‘ō·wn)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1391: Gibeon -- a Levitical city in Benjamin

And the two camps
אֵ֤לֶּה (’êl·leh)
Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

took up positions
וַיֵּ֨שְׁב֜וּ (way·yê·šə·ḇū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

opposite sides
מִזֶּ֔ה (miz·zeh)
Preposition-m | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

of the pool.
הַבְּרֵכָה֙ (hab·bə·rê·ḵāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1295: A pool, pond


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OT History: 2 Samuel 2:13 Joab the son of Zeruiah and (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 2:12
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