2 Samuel 2:12
New International Version
Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon.

New Living Translation
One day Abner led Ishbosheth’s troops from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

English Standard Version
Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

Berean Standard Bible
One day Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

Berean Literal Bible
And Abner son of Ner went out, and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

King James Bible
And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

New King James Version
Now Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

New American Standard Bible
Now Abner the son of Ner, went from Mahanaim to Gibeon with the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul.

NASB 1995
Now Abner the son of Ner, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon with the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul.

NASB 1977
Now Abner the son of Ner, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon with the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now Abner the son of Ner, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon with the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul.

Amplified Bible
Now Abner the son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

Berean Annotated Bible
One day Abner (my father is a lamp) son of Ner (lamp) and the servants of Ish-bosheth (man of shame) son of Saul (desired) marched out from Mahanaim (two camps) to Gibeon (hill city).

Christian Standard Bible
Abner son of Ner and soldiers of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Abner son of Ner and soldiers of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

American Standard Version
And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

Contemporary English Version
One day, Abner and the soldiers of Ishbosheth left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon.

English Revised Version
And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Ner's son Abner and the officers of Saul's son Ishbosheth went from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

Good News Translation
Abner and the officials of Ishbosheth went from Mahanaim to the city of Gibeon.

International Standard Version
Ner's son Abner and the servants of Saul's son Ish-bosheth set out from Mahanaim for Gibeon.

NET Bible
Then Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

New Heart English Bible
Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbaal the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
One day Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

World English Bible
Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Abner son of Ner goes out, and servants of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

Berean Literal Bible
And Abner son of Ner went out, and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

Young's Literal Translation
And Abner son of Ner goeth out, and servants of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Abner son of Ner, will go forth and the servants of the man of shame, son of Saul, from the two camps to the hill.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Isboseth the son of Saul, went out from the camp to Gabaon

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Abner, the son of Ner, and the youths of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, went out from the camp to Gibeon.

New American Bible
Now Abner, son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbaal, Saul’s son, set out from Mahanaim for Gibeon.

New Revised Standard Version
Abner son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbaal son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Abner the son of Ner and the servants of Ashbashul the son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Abnir son of Nir went out, and the Servants of Ashbashul, son of Shaul from Makhanim to Gebuun
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abenner the son of Ner went forth, and the servants of Jebosthe the son of Saul, from Manaem to Gabaon.

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.…

Cross References
One day

1 Samuel 14:1
One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But Jonathan did not tell his father.

2 Samuel 11:1
In the spring, at the time when kings march out to war, David sent out Joab and his servants with the whole army of Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles 20:1
In the spring, at the time when kings march out to war, Joab led out the army and ravaged the land of the Ammonites. He came to Rabbah and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem. And Joab attacked Rabbah and demolished it.
Abner son of Ner

1 Samuel 14:50-51
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 Samuel 26:14-16
And David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Will you not answer me, Abner?” “Who are you who calls to the king?” Abner replied. / So David said to Abner, “You are a man, aren’t you? And who in Israel is your equal? Why then did you not protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him? / This thing you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, all of you deserve to die, since you did not protect your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now look around. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?”

2 Samuel 3:17-21
Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king. / Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’” / Abner also spoke to the Benjamites. Then he went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin. …
and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul

2 Samuel 3:6-7
During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul. / Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”

2 Samuel 4:5-7
Now Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out and arrived at the house of Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day, while the king was taking his midday nap. / They entered the interior of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah slipped away. / They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was lying on his bed, and having stabbed and killed him, they beheaded him, took his head, and traveled all night by way of the Arabah.

1 Samuel 31:6-7
So Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men died together that same day. / When the Israelites along the valley and those on the other side of the Jordan saw that the army of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their cities and ran away. So the Philistines came and occupied their cities.
marched out from Mahanaim

2 Samuel 17:24-29
Then David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. / Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, the Ishmaelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab. / So the Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead. …

2 Samuel 19:31-39
Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and send him on his way from there. / Barzillai was quite old, eighty years of age, and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the king while he stayed in Mahanaim. / The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will provide for you at my side in Jerusalem.” …

Genesis 32:2
When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God.” So he named that place Mahanaim.
to Gibeon.

Joshua 10:1-11
Now Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and devoted it to destruction—doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king—and that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were living near them. / So Adoni-zedek and his people were greatly alarmed, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were mighty. / Therefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent word to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying, …

Joshua 9:3-15
But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, / acted deceptively and set out as envoys, carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. / They put worn, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies, and their whole supply of bread was dry and moldy. …

1 Kings 3:4-5
Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for it was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar there. / One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”
1 Samuel 29:1
Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.


Treasury of Scripture

And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

A.

2 Samuel 17:14
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.

Genesis 32:2
And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Gibeon

Joshua 9:3
And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,

Joshua 10:2,4,12
That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty…

Joshua 18:25
Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,

Jump to Previous
Abner Gibeon Ishbosheth Ish-Bosheth Ish-Bo'sheth Mahanaim Mahana'im Ner Saul Saul's Servants Together
Jump to Next
Abner Gibeon Ishbosheth Ish-Bosheth Ish-Bo'sheth Mahanaim Mahana'im Ner Saul Saul's Servants Together
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












One day
This phrase sets the scene for a specific event in the ongoing narrative of the struggle for power following King Saul's death. It indicates a particular moment in time, suggesting a planned or significant action rather than a random occurrence.

Abner son of Ner
Abner was a prominent military leader and the cousin of Saul, as Ner was Saul's uncle. His role as commander of Saul's army made him a key figure in the power dynamics of Israel. Abner's actions often reflect his ambition and political maneuvering, as seen in his support for Ish-bosheth as king.

and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul
Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, was made king over Israel by Abner after Saul's death. His reign was marked by weakness and reliance on Abner's military strength. The "servants" likely refer to his military forces or officials loyal to his rule, highlighting the division between the house of Saul and David.

marched out from Mahanaim
Mahanaim was a city east of the Jordan River, serving as Ish-bosheth's capital. It was a strategic location, providing a stronghold against David's forces. The act of marching out suggests a military campaign or confrontation, indicating Abner's intent to assert Ish-bosheth's claim to the throne.

to Gibeon
Gibeon was a significant city in the tribal territory of Benjamin, Saul's tribe. It was known for its historical and religious importance, including the Gibeonite deception in Joshua's time. The choice of Gibeon as a destination may reflect its strategic importance or symbolic value in the conflict between the house of Saul and David.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Abner son of Ner
Abner was the commander of Saul's army and a key figure in the power struggle following Saul's death. He was a cousin to Saul and played a significant role in supporting Ish-bosheth's claim to the throne.

2. Ish-bosheth son of Saul
Ish-bosheth was one of Saul's sons who was made king over Israel by Abner after Saul's death. His reign was marked by conflict with David, who was anointed king over Judah.

3. Mahanaim
A city east of the Jordan River, Mahanaim served as the capital for Ish-bosheth's kingdom. It was a place of refuge and strategic importance during this period of Israel's history.

4. Gibeon
A significant city in the tribal territory of Benjamin, Gibeon was the site of a notable confrontation between the forces of Ish-bosheth and David, led by Joab.

5. The Journey to Gibeon
This event marks the beginning of a series of conflicts between the house of Saul and the house of David, highlighting the division within Israel and the struggle for legitimate kingship.
Teaching Points
Leadership and Loyalty
Abner's actions demonstrate the complexities of leadership and loyalty. As Christians, we are called to examine where our loyalties lie and ensure they align with God's will.

God's Sovereignty in Conflict
The conflict between Ish-bosheth and David reminds us that God is sovereign even in times of division and strife. We can trust His plan and timing in our own lives.

The Importance of Unity
The division between the house of Saul and the house of David serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of disunity. As believers, we are called to seek unity within the body of Christ.

The Role of Strategic Decisions
Abner's decision to move to Gibeon was strategic. In our lives, we must seek God's wisdom in making decisions that align with His purposes.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 2:12?

2. How does 2 Samuel 2:12 illustrate the consequences of division among God's people?

3. What can we learn about leadership from Abner's actions in 2 Samuel 2:12?

4. How does 2 Samuel 2:12 connect to Jesus' teachings on unity?

5. How should believers respond to conflict, as seen in 2 Samuel 2:12?

6. What role does obedience play in the events of 2 Samuel 2:12?

7. What historical evidence supports the events described in 2 Samuel 2:12?

8. How does 2 Samuel 2:12 fit into the broader narrative of David's rise to power?

9. What theological themes are present in 2 Samuel 2:12?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Samuel 2?

11. In 2 Samuel 2:12–16, is the description of men killing each other simultaneously around the pool of Gibeon historically plausible or exaggerated?

12. What are the key events in 2 Samuel?

13. What are Joab's key achievements and lessons in the Bible?

14. What happened between David and Ish-bosheth?
What Does 2 Samuel 2:12 Mean
One day

The verse opens with a simple time marker: “One day.”

• Scripture often uses such phrases to signal a divinely appointed turning point (cf. 1 Samuel 14:1; 2 Kings 4:8).

• Here it introduces the critical clash that will accelerate the shift of power from Saul’s house to David’s.

• The literal wording underscores that this is real history unfolding in God’s timing, not random events.


Abner son of Ner

Abner, Saul’s cousin and commander (1 Samuel 14:50–51), is named first, showing his authority.

• As the military brain behind Saul’s dynasty, Abner steers events to preserve Saul’s line (2 Samuel 3:6).

• His decisions carry national consequences, illustrating Proverbs 21:1—“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD.”

• Abner’s prominence sets up the eventual tension between him and David’s forces led by Joab (2 Samuel 2:13).


and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul

These “servants” are the troops loyal to Saul’s surviving son, Ish-bosheth (2 Samuel 2:8–9).

• Ish-bosheth reigns only by Abner’s support; his weakness foreshadows collapse (2 Samuel 3:11).

• The verse reminds us that earthly authority apart from God’s anointed king—David—cannot ultimately stand (Psalm 2:2–6).

• The civil war motif echoes Judges 20, warning of the cost when Israel is divided.


marched out from Mahanaim

Mahanaim, east of the Jordan, had become Ish-bosheth’s headquarters (2 Samuel 2:8).

• Originally a place where Jacob met angels (Genesis 32:2), Mahanaim highlights God’s unseen sovereignty even in conflict.

• The literal physical movement (“marched out”) shows Abner taking offensive initiative, contrasting with David’s patient waiting in Hebron (2 Samuel 2:1–3).

• Similar troop movements appear in 1 Samuel 29:2–4, reminding us that battles hinge on leaders’ choices within God’s larger plan.


to Gibeon.

Gibeon lies in Benjamin’s territory, closer to David’s sphere, making it a strategic flashpoint (Joshua 18:25; 2 Samuel 2:13).

• The city’s history with the Gibeonite covenant (Joshua 9) and later famine (2 Samuel 21:1–2) frames it as a place where past decisions surface.

• Abner’s relocation of the fight westward threatens Judah, prompting Joab’s counter-march and the duel by the pool (2 Samuel 2:13–16).

• The setting shows God narrowing the battlefield, orchestrating events that will topple Saul’s house and exalt David (2 Samuel 3:1).


summary

2 Samuel 2:12 records a deliberate military move by Abner and Ish-bosheth’s forces from their stronghold at Mahanaim to the strategic city of Gibeon. Each phrase highlights God’s providence: the timing, the key leader, the shaky dynasty he defends, the physical advance, and the chosen location. The verse sets the stage for the conflict that will hasten the end of Saul’s line and confirm David as the Lord’s anointed king, demonstrating that God’s sovereign purposes stand even amid human rivalry and war.

(12) To Gibeon.--Gibeon, in the territory of Benjamin, had become noted in the original conquest of the land as the only city which succeeded, though by craft, in making a league with the conquerors (Joshua 9). It was five and a half miles north-west from Jerusalem, and at a long distance both from Mahanaim and from Hebron. Here the generals of the rival monarchs met, possibly by design, but more likely each engaged in the effort to extend their respective masters' sway over the tribe of Benjamin.

Verse 12. - Abner... went out. This is a further proof of considerable success on Abner's side. Encouraged by the result of numerous skirmishes with the Philistines, and the gradual restoration of the king's authority in Ephraim and Benjamin, Abner determined to make the attempt to win back Judah also. There David had been content with protecting Judah, and establishing good order; and, following his constant custom, had taken no steps to obtain for himself the kingdom "over all Israel." The war was of Abner's choosing, and shows him to us in the character of an able but ambitious and restless man.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
One day Abner
אַבְנֵ֣ר (’aḇ·nêr)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 74: Abner -- 'my father is a lamp', an Israelite name

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

of Ner
נֵ֔ר (nêr)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5369: Ner -- father of Abner, also the father of Kish

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

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

marched out
וַיֵּצֵא֙ (way·yê·ṣê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

from Mahanaim
מִֽמַּחֲנַ֖יִם (mim·ma·ḥă·na·yim)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4266: Mahanaim -- 'two camps', a place East of the Jordan

to Gibeon.
גִּבְעֽוֹנָה׃ (giḇ·‘ō·w·nāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1391: Gibeon -- a Levitical city in Benjamin


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OT History: 2 Samuel 2:12 Abner the son of Ner and (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 2:11
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