Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
2 Samuel 2:29-32
The Aftermath of the Battle (2 Samuel 2:29).
When Saul and his companions had finished consulting with the medium of Endor ‘they arose and went away that night' (1 Samuel 28:25), in contrast with David who was told by Achish to ‘start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light' (1 Samuel 29:10. 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, (2 Samuel 2:29) while for Joab and his men, although they go all night, ‘the day broke on them at Hebron' (2 Samuel 2:32 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.
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.
Analysis.
a 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 (2 Samuel 2:29).
b 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 (2 Samuel 2:30).
c But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men three hundred and threescore men who died (2 Samuel 2:31).
b And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem (2 Samuel 2:32 a).
a And Joab and his men went all night, and the day broke on them at Hebron (2 Samuel 2:32 b).
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.
‘ 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.'
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.
‘ 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.'
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' (2 Samuel 23:24), who along with ‘the Three' (2 Samuel 23:8) were the leading lights among David's forces.
‘ But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men three hundred and threescore men who died.'
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.
‘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.'
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.