2 Samuel 2:15
New International Version
So they stood up and were counted off—twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David.

New Living Translation
So twelve men were chosen to fight from each side—twelve men of Benjamin representing Ishbosheth son of Saul, and twelve representing David.

English Standard Version
Then they arose and passed over by number, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

Berean Standard Bible
So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David.

King James Bible
Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

New King James Version
So they arose and went over by number, twelve from Benjamin, followers of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.

New American Standard Bible
So they got up and went over by count, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.

NASB 1995
So they arose and went over by count, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

NASB 1977
So they arose and went over by count, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

Legacy Standard Bible
So they arose and went over by count, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

Amplified Bible
So they stood up and went over by number, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

Christian Standard Bible
So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from David’s soldiers.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So they got up and were counted off—12 for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and 12 from David’s soldiers.

American Standard Version
Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin, and for Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

Contemporary English Version
and twelve of Ishbosheth's men from the tribe of Benjamin got up to fight twelve of David's men.

English Revised Version
Then they arose and went over by number; twelve for Benjamin, and for Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The men got up and were counted as they passed by. Twelve were from the tribe of Benjamin (representing Saul's son Ishbosheth), and twelve were from David's officers.

Good News Translation
So twelve men, representing Ishbosheth and the tribe of Benjamin, fought twelve of David's men.

International Standard Version
So they got up and twelve were counted to represent Benjamin and Saul's son Ish-bosheth and twelve to represent members of David's staff.

Majority Standard Bible
So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David.

NET Bible
So they got up and crossed over by number: twelve belonging to Benjamin and to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.

New Heart English Bible
Then they arose and went over by number: twelve of the sons of Benjamin of Ishbaal the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then there arose, and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, who pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

World English Bible
Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of David’s servants.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they rise and pass over, in number twelve of Benjamin, even of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

Young's Literal Translation
And they rise and pass over, in number twelve of Benjamin, even of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will rise and pass over by number, twelve to Benjamin, and to the man of shame, son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then there arose and went over twelve in number of Benjamin, of the part of Isboseth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, they rose up and crossed over, twelve in number of Benjamin, from the side of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, and twelve of the youths of David.

New American Bible
So they rose and were counted off: twelve of the Benjaminites of Ishbaal, son of Saul, and twelve of David’s servants.

New Revised Standard Version
So they came forward and were counted as they passed by, twelve for Benjamin and Ishbaal son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then there arose and went over by number twelve of the men of Benjamin, who belonged to Ashbashul the son of Saul and twelve of the men of David.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they arose, and twelve of Benyamin of Ashbashul son of Shaul and twelve of the men of David passed over by number
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And there arose and passed over by number twelve of the children of Benjamin, belonging to Jebosthe the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
War Between the Houses of David and Saul
14Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” “Let them get up,” Joab replied. 15So they got up and were counted off— twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. 16Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side, and they all fell together. So this place, which is in Gibeon, is called Helkath-hazzurim.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 17:19-20
They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.” / So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with a keeper, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had instructed him. He reached the camp as the army was marching out to its position and shouting the battle cry.

1 Samuel 14:49-52
Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. His two daughters were named Merab (his firstborn) and Michal (his younger daughter). / His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner. / Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel. ...

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 11:11-14
This is the list of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief of the officers; he wielded his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed at one time. / Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men. / He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At a place with a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines. ...

1 Chronicles 12:1-2
Now these were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the mighty men who helped him in battle; / they were archers using both the right and left hands to sling stones and shoot arrows; and they were Saul’s kinsmen from Benjamin):

1 Chronicles 27:1-15
This is the list of the Israelites—the heads of families, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter concerning the divisions on rotating military duty each month throughout the year. There were 24,000 men in each division: / Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division, which was assigned the first month. There were 24,000 men in his division. / He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army commanders for the first month. ...

Judges 20:16-17
Among all these soldiers there were 700 select left-handers, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair without missing. / The Israelites, apart from Benjamin, mobilized 400,000 swordsmen, each one an experienced warrior.

1 Samuel 26:6-7
And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered Abishai. / That night David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the troops were lying around him.

2 Samuel 23:8-12
These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time. / Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel retreated, / but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead. ...

1 Samuel 18:5-7
So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well. / As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments. / And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

1 Samuel 14:6-14
Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.” / His armor-bearer replied, “Do all that is in your heart. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” / “Very well,” said Jonathan, “we will cross over toward these men and show ourselves to them. ...

1 Samuel 17:50-51
Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. / David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword and pulled it from its sheath and killed him, and he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.

1 Samuel 31:1-2
Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa. / The Philistines hotly pursued Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.

1 Samuel 13:22-23
So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hands of the troops with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons. / And a garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass at Michmash.

1 Samuel 25:13
And David said to his men, “Strap on your swords!” So David and all his men strapped on their swords, and about four hundred men followed David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.


Treasury of Scripture

Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

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Benjamin Count Counted David Ishbosheth Ish-Bosheth Ish-Bo'sheth Passed Pertained Rise Saul Servants Stood Twelve
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Benjamin Count Counted David Ishbosheth Ish-Bosheth Ish-Bo'sheth Passed Pertained Rise Saul Servants Stood Twelve
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 they got up
This phrase indicates a decisive action taken by the young men. The Hebrew root for "got up" is קוּם (qum), which often signifies rising to a challenge or taking a stand. In the context of ancient Israel, this action reflects a readiness to engage in a significant event, often with implications of courage and determination. The act of rising is symbolic of preparation and commitment, setting the stage for the confrontation that follows.

and were counted off
The act of being "counted off" suggests an organized and deliberate selection process. The Hebrew word פָּקַד (paqad) can mean to muster or appoint, indicating that these men were chosen for a specific purpose. This reflects the military and tribal structures of ancient Israel, where counting or mustering was a common practice for organizing troops. It underscores the seriousness of the impending encounter and the formal nature of the challenge.

twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul
The number "twelve" is significant in biblical terms, often representing completeness or the twelve tribes of Israel. Here, it signifies a representative group from the tribe of Benjamin, loyal to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son. Historically, the tribe of Benjamin was known for its fierce warriors, and their loyalty to Saul's house is rooted in tribal affiliations and the political dynamics following Saul's death. Ish-bosheth's leadership is a continuation of Saul's legacy, and these twelve men symbolize the strength and unity of his claim to the throne.

and twelve for David
Similarly, the "twelve for David" represents a complete and balanced opposition to the twelve from Benjamin. David, anointed by God and recognized as a man after God's own heart, is establishing his rule over Judah. The selection of twelve men for David signifies the legitimacy and divine favor upon his kingship. This confrontation is not just a physical battle but a spiritual and political contest between the house of Saul and the house of David, foreshadowing the eventual unification of Israel under David's rule.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So they got up
וַיָּקֻ֖מוּ (way·yā·qu·mū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

and were counted off—
בְמִסְפָּ֑ר (ḇə·mis·pār)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4557: A number, definite, indefinite, narration

twelve
שְׁנֵ֧ים (šə·nêm)
Number - md
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

for Benjamin
לְבִנְיָמִ֗ן (lə·ḇin·yā·min)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1144: Benjamin -- 'son of the right hand', youngest son of Jacob, also the name of two other Israelites

and Ish-bosheth
בֹּ֙שֶׁת֙ (bō·šeṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 378: Ish-bosheth -- 'man of shame', a son of Saul and king of Israel

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

of Saul,
שָׁא֔וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

and twelve
וּשְׁנֵ֥ים (ū·šə·nêm)
Conjunctive waw | Number - md
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

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


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OT History: 2 Samuel 2:15 Then they arose and went over (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 2:14
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