And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
Parallel translations
- WEB Abner said to Joab, “Please let the young men arise and play before us!” Joab said, “Let them arise!”
- BSB Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” “Let them get up,” Joab replied.
- NKJV Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.”
- NASB Then Abner said to Joab, “Now have the young men arise and hold a martial skills match in our presence.” And Joab said, “Have them arise!”
- NLT Then Abner suggested to Joab, “Let’s have a few of our warriors fight hand to hand here in front of us.” “All right,” Joab agreed.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Abner proposes a contest of young men, and Joab agrees. What is framed as sport quickly turns deadly.
Overview
Abner suggests the young men play before the armies, a grim euphemism for a representative combat. Joab accepts, and what follows is no game but lethal violence. The verse exposes how lightly men can treat bloodshed, and how civil strife trivializes the lives of God's people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 2 Sam 2:17And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
- Prov 17:14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
- Prov 20:18Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
- 2 Sam 2:26–27Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
- Prov 10:23It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
- Prov 26:18–19As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
- Prov 25:8Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 2:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.