Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Then Joab stopped pursuing Abner and assembled the whole army. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David’s men were found missing. New Living Translation Meanwhile, Joab and his men also returned home. When Joab counted his casualties, he discovered that only 19 men were missing in addition to Asahel. English Standard Version Joab returned from the pursuit of Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing from David’s servants nineteen men besides Asahel. Berean Standard Bible When Joab returned from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel, nineteen of David’s servants were missing, Berean Literal Bible And Joab returned from pursuing Abner, and he gathered together all the people. And there were missing from the servants of David nineteen men, and Asah-el. King James Bible And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel. New King James Version So Joab returned from pursuing Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel. New American Standard Bible Then Joab returned from pursuing Abner; but he gathered all the people together, and nineteen of David’s servants were missing, besides Asahel. NASB 1995 Then Joab returned from following Abner; when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen of David’s servants besides Asahel were missing. NASB 1977 Then Joab returned from following Abner; when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen of David’s servants besides Asahel were missing. Legacy Standard Bible Now Joab returned from following Abner. And he had gathered all the people together, and nineteen of David’s servants besides Asahel were missing. Amplified Bible Joab returned from pursuing Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen of David’s servants were missing, besides Asahel. Berean Annotated Bible When Joab (YHWH is father) returned from pursuing Abner (my father is a lamp), he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel (God-made), nineteen of David’s (beloved) servants were missing, Christian Standard Bible When Joab had turned back from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel, nineteen of David’s soldiers were missing, Holman Christian Standard Bible When Joab had turned back from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel, 19 of David’s soldiers were missing, American Standard Version And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel. Contemporary English Version As soon as Joab stopped chasing Abner, he got David's troops together and counted them. There were 19 missing besides Asahel. English Revised Version And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel. GOD'S WORD® Translation Joab returned from chasing Abner. When he had gathered all the troops, [only] 19 of David's officers and Asahel were missing. Good News Translation When Joab gave up the chase, he gathered all his men and found that nineteen of them were missing, in addition to Asahel. International Standard Version Joab returned from his pursuit of Abner, and when he had mustered his entire army, nineteen of David's soldiers were missing besides Asahel. NET Bible Now Joab returned from chasing Abner and assembled all the people. Nineteen of David's soldiers were missing, in addition to Asahel. New Heart English Bible Joab returned from pursuing Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing from David's servants nineteen men and Asahel. Webster's Bible Translation And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had assembled all the people, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men, and Asahel. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhen Joab returned from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel, nineteen of David’s servants were missing, World English Bible Joab returned from following Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen men of David’s and Asahel were missing. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Joab has turned back from after Abner, and gathers all the people, and there are lacking of the servants of David nineteen men, and Asahel; Berean Literal Bible And Joab returned from pursuing Abner, and he gathered together all the people. And there were missing from the servants of David nineteen men, and Asah-el. Young's Literal Translation And Joab hath turned back from after Abner, and gathereth all the people, and there are lacking of the servants of David nineteen men, and Asahel; Smith's Literal Translation And Joab turned back from after Abner: and he will gather all the people together and they will review from the servants of David nineteen men and Asahel. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Joab returning, after he had left Abner, assembled all the people: and there were wanting of David's servants nineteen men, beside Asael. Catholic Public Domain Version But Joab, returning after he had released Abner, gathered together all the people. And of David’s youths, they were missing nineteen men, aside from Asahel. New American Bible Joab, coming from the pursuit of Abner, assembled all the men. Nineteen other servants of David were missing, besides Asahel. New Revised Standard Version Joab returned from the pursuit of Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing of David’s servants nineteen men besides Asahel. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Joab returned from following Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together and they were numbered, there were twelve wounded of David's men, and Ashael was dead. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Yuab returned from after Abnir and assembled all the people, and they were counted, and twelve of the men of David were wounded, and Shayel died OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Joab returned from following Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel. Brenton Septuagint Translation And Joab returned from following Abenner, and he assembled all the people, and there were missing of the people of David, nineteen men, and Asael. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context War Between the Houses of David and Saul…29And all that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning, and arrived at Mahanaim. 30When Joab returned from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel, nineteen of David’s servants were missing, 31but they had struck down 360 Benjamites who were with Abner.… Cross References When Joab returned from pursuing Abner, 2 Samuel 3:22 Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid, bringing with them a great plunder. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, because David had sent him on his way in peace. 1 Samuel 30:17 And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man escaped, except four hundred young men who fled, riding off on camels. he gathered all the troops. 2 Samuel 18:1 Then David reviewed his troops and appointed over them commanders of thousands and of hundreds. 2 Samuel 20:4 Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.” In addition to Asahel, 2 Samuel 3:30 (Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.) 2 Samuel 3:27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel. nineteen of David’s servants were missing, 1 Samuel 30:18-19 So David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. / Nothing was missing, young or old, son or daughter, or any of the plunder the Amalekites had taken. David brought everything back. 1 Samuel 14:17 Saul said to the troops who were with him, “Call the roll and see who has left us.” And when they had called the roll, they saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. Numbers 31:49 and said, “Your servants have counted the soldiers under our command, and not one of us is missing. 2 Samuel 1:1-2 After the death of Saul, David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. / On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head arrived from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him homage. 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 12:1-2 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 12:19-22 Some from Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (They did not help the Philistines because the Philistine rulers consulted and sent David away, saying, “It will cost us our heads if he defects to his master Saul.”) / When David went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh. / They helped David against the raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor and commanders in the army. … 1 Chronicles 19:17-19 When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, advanced toward the Arameans, and arrayed for battle against them. When David lined up to engage them in battle, they fought against him. / But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach the commander of their army. / When Hadadezer’s subjects saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Arameans were unwilling to help the Ammonites anymore. Judges 20:45-47 Then the Benjamites turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and Israel cut down 5,000 men on the roads. And they overtook them at Gidom and struck down 2,000 more. / That day 25,000 Benjamite swordsmen fell, all men of valor. / But 600 men turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months. 1 Samuel 14:20-23 Then Saul and all his troops assembled and marched to the battle, and they found the Philistines in total confusion, with each man wielding the sword against his neighbor. / And the Hebrews who had previously gone up into the surrounding camps to join the Philistines now went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. / When all the Israelites who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined the battle in close pursuit. … Treasury of Scripture And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel. Jump to Previous Abner Asahel As'ahel Assembled Besides David David's Fighting Following Found Gathered Joab Jo'ab Lacked Missing Nineteen Pursuing Pursuit Servants Together TurnedJump to Next Abner Asahel As'ahel Assembled Besides David David's Fighting Following Found Gathered Joab Jo'ab Lacked Missing Nineteen Pursuing Pursuit Servants Together Turned2 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 When Joab returned from pursuing Abner Joab, the commander of David's forces, was engaged in a pursuit of Abner, the commander of Saul's army. This pursuit followed a battle at Gibeon, a significant location in the tribal territory of Benjamin. The pursuit highlights the ongoing conflict between the house of Saul and the house of David, a central theme in the early chapters of 2 Samuel. Joab's return signifies a temporary cessation of hostilities, reflecting the complex and often personal nature of these conflicts. The pursuit of Abner also foreshadows future tensions between Joab and Abner, which will have significant implications for the kingdom of Israel. he gathered all the troops In addition to Asahel nineteen of David’s servants were missing Persons / Places / Events 1. JoabThe commander of David's army and a key military leader. He is known for his loyalty to David but also for his ruthless tactics. 2. Abner The commander of Saul's army and a significant figure in the power struggle between the house of Saul and the house of David. 3. Asahel Joab's brother, known for his swiftness and bravery. He was killed by Abner during the battle. 4. David's Servants Refers to the soldiers loyal to David, who were involved in the conflict against Abner and the forces of Saul. 5. The Battle This event is part of the larger conflict between the house of Saul and the house of David, marking the struggle for kingship over Israel. Teaching Points The Cost of ConflictThe verse highlights the human cost of political and military conflict. As believers, we are reminded to seek peace and reconciliation, understanding the value of each life. Leadership and Responsibility Joab's role as a leader is crucial. Leaders are responsible for the well-being of those under their command. This calls for integrity and wisdom in leadership roles. The Consequences of Revenge The pursuit of Abner by Joab, partly motivated by the death of his brother Asahel, illustrates the destructive nature of revenge. Christians are called to forgive and leave vengeance to God. Loyalty and Allegiance The loyalty of David's servants, even in the face of loss, reflects the importance of steadfastness in our commitments, especially in our faith and service to God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 2:30?2. How does 2 Samuel 2:30 illustrate the consequences of disobedience to God? 3. What lessons on leadership can be drawn from Joab's actions in this verse? 4. How does 2 Samuel 2:30 connect with themes of conflict in other Scriptures? 5. What personal conflicts can you resolve by applying principles from 2 Samuel 2:30? 6. How can we seek God's guidance in times of conflict, as seen here? 7. What does 2 Samuel 2:30 reveal about the nature of leadership and authority in biblical times? 8. How does 2 Samuel 2:30 reflect the historical context of ancient Israelite warfare? 9. What theological implications arise from the events described in 2 Samuel 2:30? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Samuel 2? 11. In 2 Chronicles 35:18, why does the text claim no Passover like Josiah's had been celebrated 'since the days of Samuel,' seemingly ignoring the grand Passover of Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles 30? 12. 2 Samuel 3:27-30: Why doesn't David punish Joab immediately for murdering Abner if he truly opposes the act? 13. In 2 Samuel 2:18-23, how credible is it that Abner kills Asahel with the blunt end of his spear in a swift chase? 14. Why did Joab kill Abner in the Bible story? What Does 2 Samuel 2:30 Mean When Joab returned from pursuing Abner• Joab’s pursuit was personal and national. Abner had killed Asahel (2 Samuel 2:23), so the pursuit involved justice for a fallen brother as well as the defense of David’s kingdom. • Scripture shows leaders pursuing enemies until God’s purpose is fulfilled (Joshua 10:19; Judges 7:23). Joab’s return signals that the chase had ended when it no longer served God’s immediate plan—Abner’s plea and the nightfall had halted further bloodshed (2 Samuel 2:26–27). • Coming back from conflict, Joab models disciplined obedience. He does not linger in vengeance; he returns to camp, reflecting Proverbs 20:22: “Do not say, ‘I will avenge this evil!’ Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.” he gathered all the troops • Good commanders account for every soldier (Numbers 1:2–3). Joab’s first act is to muster the men, demonstrating stewardship over lives entrusted to him. • Gathering also restores unity after the heat of battle. Hebrews 12:12–13 urges believers to “strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.” Joab’s regrouping lets wounded hearts and bodies be cared for. • This shepherd-like concern foreshadows David’s later shepherd leadership (Psalm 78:72). God values both victory and the wellbeing of His people (John 6:12, where Jesus has the leftovers gathered so none are lost). In addition to Asahel • Scripture singles out Asahel because relationships matter to God. Names are not mere statistics (John 10:3, “He calls His own sheep by name”). • Asahel’s death was a turning point (2 Samuel 2:18–23). Mentioning him here underscores that personal loss accompanies national struggle. • His mention also reminds the reader that even the swift (1 Chronicles 2:18) fall without divine protection, echoing Ecclesiastes 9:11. nineteen of David’s servants were missing • The tally shows God’s restrained judgment. Compared to Abner’s losses of 360 (2 Samuel 2:31), Israel’s casualties are minimal, reflecting divine favor on David’s house (2 Samuel 3:1). • Counting the missing teaches realism: victory still carries cost (Luke 14:31–32). Faithful service may involve sacrifice, yet God records every loss (Psalm 56:8). • The number nineteen, though small, represents families affected. Romans 12:15 calls believers to “weep with those who weep,” encouraging compassion toward the bereaved. summary Joab’s return, his gathering of troops, the naming of Asahel, and the careful count of nineteen missing men together paint a portrait of godly leadership under David. The verse reminds us that in every conflict God values justice tempered with restraint, leadership that accounts for people, personal names amid statistics, and honest recognition of sacrifice. Even in triumph, Scripture calls believers to stewardship, compassion, and trust in the Lord’s sovereign protection and purposes. (30) Joab returned.--He cannot be supposed to have returned that day farther than to Gibeon, since it was already sunset (2Samuel 2:24) before the pursuit ended. There, doubtless, he mustered his forces, and counted and buried the slain.Nineteen men.--It is uncertain whether these numbers include the twelve champion combatants on each side. The great disparity of numbers slain on the two sides is to be accounted for partly by the advantage given by bow and spear, the chief weapons of ancient warfare, to the pursuer over the pursued, and partly by the fact that Joab's men had been long trained under David in hardship and deeds of valour, while Abner's men were the remnants of Saul's defeated army. Verses 30, 31. - Nineteen men... three hundred and three score men. Though David's "mighties," as they were called, excelled in the use of arms, yet the disparity of numbers is remarkable; for the Benjamites were also famous warriors. We can only account for it by the superiority of the tactics of Joab, who was a man of consummate military skill, and who knew both how to gain a victory and how to use the advantage which the pursuers have over the pursued to the full. If we sometimes wonder that David endured Joab so long, we ought to remember how much he owed to his nephew's genius, and that Joab was always faithful to himself.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew When Joabוְיוֹאָ֗ב (wə·yō·w·’āḇ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3097: Joab -- 'the LORD is father', three Israelites returned שָׁ֚ב (ḇ) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again from pursuing מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י (mê·’a·ḥă·rê) Preposition-m Strong's 310: The hind or following part Abner, אַבְנֵ֔ר (’aḇ·nêr) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 74: Abner -- 'my father is a lamp', an Israelite name he gathered וַיִּקְבֹּ֖ץ (way·yiq·bōṣ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6908: To gather, collect all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the troops. הָעָ֑ם (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock In addition to Asahel, וַעֲשָׂה־ (wa·‘ă·śāh-) Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 6214: Asahel -- 'God has made', four Israelites nineteen תִּשְׁעָֽה־ (tiš·‘āh-) Number - masculine singular Strong's 8672: Nine, ninth of David’s דָוִ֛ד (ḏā·wiḏ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse servants מֵעַבְדֵ֥י (mê·‘aḇ·ḏê) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 5650: Slave, servant were missing, וַיִּפָּ֨קְד֜וּ (way·yip·pā·qə·ḏū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit Links 2 Samuel 2:30 NIV2 Samuel 2:30 NLT 2 Samuel 2:30 ESV 2 Samuel 2:30 NASB 2 Samuel 2:30 KJV 2 Samuel 2:30 BibleApps.com 2 Samuel 2:30 Biblia Paralela 2 Samuel 2:30 Chinese Bible 2 Samuel 2:30 French Bible 2 Samuel 2:30 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Samuel 2:30 Joab returned from following Abner: and when (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam) |
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