Limitless Word
But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.
2 Samuel 2:31 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB But David’s servants had struck Benjamin and of Abner’s men so that three hundred sixty men died.
  • BSB but they had struck down 360 Benjamites who were with Abner.
  • NKJV But the servants of David had struck down, of Benjamin and Abner’s men, three hundred and sixty men who died.
  • NASB However, the servants of David had struck and killed many of Benjamin and Abner’s men; 360 men were dead.
  • NLT But 360 of Abner’s men had been killed, all from the tribe of Benjamin.

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's Benjamite forces lost three hundred sixty men. The lopsided toll shows David's decisive advantage.

Overview

David's servants inflicted far heavier casualties on Abner's side, killing three hundred sixty men. The stark contrast with David's nineteen losses signals the relative strength of the two houses. The numbers confirm the narrative's theme that David's kingdom is growing stronger as God's purpose advances.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 2

  • 1 Kgs 20:11And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.
  • 2 Sam 3:1Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (6)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 2 Samuel videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 2 Samuel 2:31YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 2 SamuelMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 2:31 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.