Bible Strands
2 Samuel 2:8
Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative shifts from David’s message to the men of Jabesh Gilead to Abner son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, acting after Saul’s death.
The words — לָקַ֗ח (la.Kach) = he had taken and שַׂר צָבָא (sar tza.Va') = commander of the army.
The thread — Abner’s role is previously identified in 1 Samuel 14:50, while the location Mahanaim is named in Genesis 32:2, and Saul’s prior inquiry to Abner appears in 1 Samuel 17:55.
Why it lands — The text records Abner’s political maneuver to install Ish-bosheth in Mahanaim, requiring the reader to track the immediate transfer of royal authority following Saul’s death.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, took Ish–bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 14:50 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.
- Genesis 32:2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God.” So he named that place Mahanaim.
- 1 Samuel 17:55 As Saul had watched David going out to confront the Philistine, he said to Abner the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” “As surely as you live, O king,” Abner replied, “I do not know.”
- 1 Samuel 26:14 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.
- 2 Samuel 3:7 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 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.
- 2 Samuel 17:26 So the Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.
- 1 Chronicles 8:33 Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.
- 1 Chronicles 9:39 Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.