29<\/strong>. walked all that night<\/em> ] Fearing a renewal of hostilities they made good their retreat at once.<\/p>\n through the plain<\/em> ] The Arbh<\/strong>, or “desert tract which extends along the valley of the Jordan from the Dead Sea to the Lake of Gennesareth, now called by the Arabs El-Ghor.” Stanley, Sinai and Pal.<\/em> p. 487.<\/p>\n through all Bithron<\/em> ] Probably, as the name (derived from a root meaning to cut<\/em>) implies, some ravine<\/em>, or district intersected by ravines<\/em>, between the Jordan and Mahanaim.<\/p>\n Through the plain – <\/B>See 1Sa 23:24<\/span>. Bithron is unknown. From the expression all (the) Bithron, it seems likely that it is a tract of country, intersected by ravines lying on the east side of Jordan.<\/P><\/p>\n 2Sa 2:29<\/span><\/p>\n And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n The cost of success<\/strong><\/p>\n We would remind ourselves of such events in order that we may see what has been accomplished by military discipline, by the subordination of merely personal whims and desires. Even conquerors have no easy time in life. We think of success, of triumph, of coronation, but we forget that before these things, and as necessary to them, there must be discipline, suffering, loss, trial of every kind. We read with glowing hearts the accounts of explorers, discoverers, adventurers, who have gone into regions unknown and undreamed of; and here, again, we forget the night watchings, the night marchings, the continual perils and difficulties of the road. Self-denial is not confined to Christian experience. Whoever would be great in any department or relation of life must over know the pain of self-mortification–must, in other words, achieve the mastery himself–must, so to say, stand upon himself in an attitude of triumph. (J. Parker, D. D<\/em>.)<\/p>\n Verse 29. They came to Mahanaim.<\/B><\/I>] So they returned to the place whence they set out. See 2Sa 2:12<\/span>. This was the commencement of the civil wars between Israel and Judah, and properly the commencement of the division of the two kingdoms, through which both nations were deluged with blood.<\/P> <\/p>\n Bithron; <\/B>otherwise called the mountains of Bether<\/I>, Son 2:17<\/span>, which were beyond Jordan; or some other country now not known by that name, which is the case of hundreds of places. <\/P> <\/p>\n And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain<\/strong>,…. The plain of Jordan. He marched with his men all night, lest Joab should return, and pursue him, and take vengeance on him for the death of his brother:<\/p>\n and passed over Jordan<\/strong>; at one of the fords of it:<\/p>\n and went through all Bithron<\/strong>; the name of a province or country, as Jarchi, called so perhaps from its being separated from the rest of the tribes of Israel by the river Jordan; some think the mountains of Bether were in this country, So 2:17<\/span>. From Gibeon, where the battle was fought, to Bithron, according to Bunting o, was twenty eight miles, the which he says was in the tribe of Gad, twenty eight miles from Jerusalem northeastward, lying between Dibon and Jordan:<\/p>\n and they came to Mahanaim<\/strong>: from whence they came, and where they had left Ishbosheth, 2Sa 2:8<\/span>. From Bithron to this place, according to the same writer p, was sixteen miles.<\/p>\n o Travels, &c. p. 145, 146. p Ibid.<\/p>\n Abner proceeded with his troops through the Arabah<\/em>, i.e., the valley of the Jordan, marching the whole night; and then crossing the river, went through the whole of Bithron<\/em> back to Mahanaim. Bithron<\/em> is a district upon the eastern side of the Jordan, which is only mentioned here. Aquila and the Vulgate identify it with Bethhoron<\/em>; but there is no more foundation for this than for the suggestion of Thenius, that it is the same place as Bethha r<\/em> am, the later Libias<\/em>, at the mouth of the Nahr Hesbn (see at Num 32:36<\/span>). It is very evident that Bithron<\/em> is not the name of a city, but of a district, from the fact that it is preceded by the word all<\/em>, which would be perfectly unmeaning in the case of a city. The meaning of the word is a cutting; and it was no doubt the name given to some ravine in the neighbourhood of the Jabbok, between the Jordan and Mahanaim, which was on the north side of the Jabbok.<\/p>\n (29) Through the plain<\/strong> (or the Arabah<\/em>).<\/em>The wilderness of Gibeon lay to the east of the town, and Abners flight had thus carried him towards the Jordan. He now passed up the valley of the Jordan (which the word here used generally designates), and, crossing at a ford, went through all Bithron to Mahanaim. Bithron is evidently the name of a district on the east of the Jordan, but is not further known.<\/p>\n 29<\/strong>. <\/strong> Through the plain <\/strong> The valley of the Jordan. <\/p>\n Bithron <\/strong> Literally, the broken <\/em> or divided place. <\/em> As no locality bearing this name is ever afterwards mentioned, and the Hebrew word has the article all the <\/em> Bithron <\/em> it probably designates not a single place, but the broken and intersected region beyond the Jordan through which one must pass in order to go from the river to Mahanaim.<\/p>\n The Aftermath of the Battle ( 2Sa 2:29-32<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> ). <\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n When Saul and his companions had finished consulting with the medium of Endor ‘they arose and went away that night’ (1Sa 28:25<\/span>), in contrast with David who was told by Achish to ‘start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light’ (1Sa 29:10<\/span>. It appeared that there the writer was contrasting Saul’s journey into the darkness with David’s journey into the light. If that appears a little fanciful, consider the similar situation here. Abner and his men go ‘all that night’ and come to Mahanaim, (2Sa 2:29<\/span>) while for Joab and his men, although they go all night, ‘the day broke on them at Hebron’ (2Sa 2:32<\/span> b). It would seem that we have the same indication, that the Saulides are going into the darkness, while David’ men are going into the light. <\/p>\n In between those statements we learn the outcome of the battle. David’s efficient and well-trained army lost only twenty men, while the lesser trained men of Israel lost ‘three hundred and three score men’. If this included the twelve slain in the opening contest the losses of David’s army were incredibly light, consisting only of seven men, and Asahel. It was a clear portent about the future. <\/p>\n Analysis. <\/p>\n a <\/strong> And Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah, and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim (2Sa 2:29<\/span>). <\/p>\n b <\/strong> And Joab returned from following Abner, and when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel (2Sa 2:30<\/span>). <\/p>\n c <\/strong> But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men three hundred and threescore men who died (2Sa 2:31<\/span>). <\/p>\n b <\/strong> And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem (2Sa 2:32<\/span> a). <\/p>\n a <\/strong> And Joab and his men went all night, and the day broke on them at Hebron (2Sa 2:32<\/span> b). <\/p>\n Note that in ‘a’ Abner and his men went all night and came to Mahanaim, while in the parallel Joab and his men went all night and day broke on them in Hebron. In ‘b’ we are reminded of the death of Asahel, and in the parallel we are told of the burial of Asahel. Central in ‘c’ are the larger Israelite losses. <\/p>\n 2Sa 2:29<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n ‘<\/strong> And Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah, and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim.’ <\/p>\n Abner’s defeated army travelled all night to reach Mahanaim, entering the Jordan rift valley (the Arabah), passing over the Jordan (on the way out of the promised land), and going through ‘all Bithron’ (the word means ‘ravine’) in order to get there. What a vivid contrast it was to their previous journey the other way which they had taken days previously with such great hopes of success. Israel were getting used to being defeated. <\/p>\n 2Sa 2:30<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n ‘<\/strong> And Joab returned from following Abner, and when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.’ <\/p>\n In contrast Joab returned from the chase and on mustering the men discovered that only twenty men were missing, including Asahel. The mention of Asahel as a kind of addition stresses the greatness of the loss that they felt in his death. He had been a great warrior, and had been one of ‘the thirty’ (2Sa 23:24<\/span>), who along with ‘the Three’ (2Sa 23:8-12<\/span>) were the leading lights among David’s forces. <\/p>\n 2Sa 2:31<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n ‘<\/strong> But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men three hundred and threescore men who died.’ <\/p>\n Meanwhile a count was made of those of Israel who had died, and they numbered ‘three hundred and threescore men’. This may have been calculated by Joab on the basis of the bodies discovered, or it may have been the result of the count when Abner arrived at Mahanaim. It may, however be that the number is deliberately adjectival indicating a large number which indicated the completeness of the victory, for it is a round number, and three is the number of completion, with its repetition emphasising the completeness. The emphasis is on the fact that their losses had amounted to hundreds, with many being slain on their headlong flight. <\/p>\n 2Sa 2:32<\/strong><\/span> <\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n ‘And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and the day broke on them at Hebron.’ <\/p>\n The assessments of the battle having been made they took up Asahel’s body and buried it in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem, the home of David’s family. Asahel’s mother was David’s elder sister. While some were engaged in this Joab led his men through the night and arrived at Hebron in time for the break of day. It was symbolic of the bright future that lay ahead for them. <\/p>\n (29) And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim. (30) 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. (31) But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred and threescore men died. (32) And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The separation of the two armies, and their return to their respective places, for the present put a stop to the war. But Reader! there is no truce, no respite, no cessation in that war, which sin and Satan make against the holy army of our spiritual David. When once the Christian soldier hath buckled on his armour he never puts it off till he is undressed by death. Dearest Jesus! do thou arm me for the fight, that I may endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2Ti 2:3<\/span> .<\/p>\n “Handfuls of Purpose”<\/p>\n For All Gleaners<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n “And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain.” 2Sa 2:29<\/span><\/em> .<\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n We should remind ourselves of such events in order that we may see what has been accomplished by military discipline, by the subordination of merely personal whims and desires. Even conquerors have no easy time in life. We think of success, of triumph, of coronation, but we forget that before these things, and as necessary to them, there must be discipline, suffering, loss, trial of every kind. We read with glowing hearts the accounts of explorers, discoverers, adventurers, who have gone into regions unknown and undreamedof; and here, again, we forget the night watchings, the night marchings, the continual perils and difficulties of the road. The Apostle Paul makes use of all this aspect of discipline, saying, “They do it to obtain a corruptible crown,” and his argument is that if men will do so much for a crown that must fade, what ought they to do who are struggling for a crown eternal? If men are so anxious to win the prizes of earth, what ought they to be to win the infinitely greater prizes of heaven? Self-denial is not confined to Christian experience. Whoever would be great in any department or relation of life must know the pain of self-mortification must, in other words, achieve the mastery over himself must, so to say, stand upon himself in an attitude of triumph. We cannot dream ourselves into heaven, nor can we dream ourselves into any form of greatness that is really worthy of realisation. Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, into life of every kind, of eminence, of usefulness, of truest pleasure, and most lasting renown.<\/p>\n 2Sa 2:29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.<\/p>\n Ver. 29. And went through all Bithron,<\/strong> ] i.e., <\/em> Through the separate or divided country: sundered from Canaan by the river Jordan, as Junius rendereth it. They went back to Mahanaim, by weeping cross. Dubia est Martis alea, nec raro utrique parti noxia.<\/p>\n Bithron = the ravine. <\/p>\n Bithron: Bithron or Bether is probably the same as Betarus, which is placed in the Antonine Itinerary between Caesarea of Palestine and Diospolis or Lydda, 18 miles from the former, and 22 from the latter. The Jerusalem Itinerary mentions a place called Bethar, 16 miles from Caesarea, and 20 from Diospolis, which is probably the same. The Talmudists say that it was four miles distant from the sea. Son 2:17, Bether <\/p>\n Mahanaim: 2Sa 2:12<\/p>\n And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim. 29. walked all that night ] Fearing a renewal of hostilities they made good their retreat at once. through the plain ] The Arbh, or “desert tract which extends … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 2:29”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8090","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8090","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8090"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8090\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8090"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8090"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8090"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The People’s Bible by Joseph Parker<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"