8 But Abner the son of Ner , commander of Saul's army , had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim . 9 He made him king over Gilead , over the Ashurites , over Jezreel , over Ephraim , and over Benjamin , even over all Israel . 10 Ish-bosheth , Saul's son , was forty years old when he became king over Israel , and he was king for two years . The house of Judah , however , followed David . 11 The time e that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months . 12 Now Abner the son of Ner , went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon with the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul . 13 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 . 14 Then Abner said to Joab , "Now let the young men arise and hold a contest before us." And Joab said , "Let them arise ." 15 So they arose and went over by count , twelve e for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul , and twelve e of the servants of David . 16 Each one of them seized his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent's side ; so they fell down together . Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim , which is in Gibeon . 17 That day the battle was very severe , and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 2:8-17
Commentary on 2 Samuel 2:8-17.
(Read 2 Samuel 2:8-17.)
The nation in general refused David. By this the Lord trained up his servant for future honour and usefulness; and the tendency of true godliness was shown in his behaviour while passing through various difficulties. David was herein a type of Christ, whom Israel would not submit to, though anointed of the Father to be a Prince and a Saviour to them. Abner meant, Let the young men fight before us, when he said, Let them play before us: fools thus make a mock at sin. But he is unworthy the name of a man, that can thus trifle with human blood.