Civil War

Abner, seeking to extend the rule of Ish-bosheth, led an armed incursion to the border claimed by David. He and his men gathered at a spring near Gibeon, which lay northwest of Jerusalem. Joab, the commander of David’s forces, gathered his men at the same spring but on the opposite side of the large pool. Here was to be a battle between families—Abner, Ish-bosheth’s great-uncle, versus Joab, David’s nephew. Once again, a method of warfare was played out that has become obsolete in modern times. As with Goliath’s challenge to the armies of Israel, Abner challenged Joab to combat between chosen champions prior to engaging in a larger battle between entire armies. This vicious contest was to pit a dozen men representing Ish-bosheth and a dozen representing David against each other (2 Samuel 2:15).

The contestants each grabbed the other by the head and thrust swords through their respective bodies. It would seem all perished (v. 16).

Helkath-hazzurim means “‘field of flints’ or ‘field of [sword] edges,’” which is an appropriate name for the action that took place at this site.

The larger battle was then joined.

Battles during the time of David were mainly fought with bows, arrows, and slings from a distance and with swords and spears once the armies met in hand-to-hand conflict.

Battles routinely involved little or no strategy other than to overpower one’s opponent and move on to the next until one side or the other fled the field.

Such was the case for the army of Abner.

“The numbers engaged were probably not large, since the total of those slain was only 20 on the side of David and 360 on the side of Israel (vs. 30, 31), but the contest was fought out with a fierceness that brought a decisive victory to the forces of Judah.” Abner might have been a great commander, but he saw the battle was going against his men and fled the field.

Issuing challenges is not the way for Christians to settle disputes.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9).