2 Samuel 2:28

2Sa 2:28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

Ver. 28. So Joab blew a trumpet.] After that Abner had first excused unto him the killing of his brother Asahel, as saith Josephus.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Sa_2:28

Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him.

Death comes unawares

Observe here--

1. How death often comes upon us by ways that we least suspect. Who would fear the hand of a flying enemy, or the butt end of a spear? yet from these Asahel receives his death wound.

2. See how we are often betrayed by the accomplishments we are proud of. Asahel's swiftness, which he presumed so much upon, did him no kindness, but forwarded his fate; and with it he ran upon his death, instead of running from it. (M. Henry.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Sa 2:28-29. So Joab blew a trumpet — Caused a retreat to be sounded. Neither fought they any more — Neither at that time, nor probably at any other, in a pitched battle. And Abner and his men walked all that night — He made the best of his way to Jordan; crossed it, and rested nowhere until he came to Mahanaim, that he might get out of the reach of David’s forces.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2:28 The ram’s horn signaled the beginning and end of combat (see also 18:16; Josh 6:15-16). For other uses of the ram’s horn, see study note on 2 Sam 6:15.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(28) Neither fought they any more—i.e., in this present campaign. In 2Sa_3:1, it is said that “there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David.”

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

28. neither fought they any more] For the time being only. It was not the final end of the war, which lasted for a long time afterwards (ch. 2Sa_3:1).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

So Joab blew a trumpet,.... Or caused one to be blown as a signal of a retreat:

and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more; as soon as they heard the trumpet sound, the meaning of which they understood, they stepped at once, and left off their pursuit:

neither fought they any more; that day, and perhaps no pitched battle afterwards; for none we read of, though the war continued after this a long time, and there might be often skirmishes, which greatly weakened Abner's party. See Sa2 3:1.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Trumpet. It was not dishonourable for a general to do this himself, chap. xviii. 16. But among the Hebrews, the priests generally performed this office. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Either, first, at that time; or rather, secondly, in any pitched battle.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

blew the trumpet

Trumpets were used to signal orders to the armies across great distances. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

did not pursue Israel

Here "Israel" refers to the Israelite soldiers. AT: "did not continue to chase the Israelite soldiers" (See: Synecdoche)

Arabah ... Mahanaim

These are the names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

translationWords

Joab

trumpet

Israel

Abner

Arabah

Jordan River

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.