Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, May 20th, 2025
the Fifth Week after Easter
the Fifth Week after Easter
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Read the Bible
Good News Translation
2 Samuel 2:14
Abner said to Joab, "Let's have some of the young men from each side fight an armed contest." "All right," Joab answered.
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Bible Study Resources
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- InternationalParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have the young men get up and compete in front of us.”
Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have the young men get up and compete in front of us.”
Hebrew Names Version
Aviner said to Yo'av, Please let the young men arise and play before us. Yo'av said, Let them arise.
Aviner said to Yo'av, Please let the young men arise and play before us. Yo'av said, Let them arise.
King James Version
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
Lexham English Bible
Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men come up and fight in our presence." And Joab said, "Let them come up."
Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men come up and fight in our presence." And Joab said, "Let them come up."
English Standard Version
And Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men arise and compete before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise."
And Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men arise and compete before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise."
New Century Version
Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men have a contest here." Joab said, "Yes, let them have a contest."
Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men have a contest here." Joab said, "Yes, let them have a contest."
New English Translation
Abner said to Joab, "Let the soldiers get up and fight before us." Joab said, "So be it!"
Abner said to Joab, "Let the soldiers get up and fight before us." Joab said, "So be it!"
Amplified Bible
Then Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men now stand and have a contest before us." And Joab said, "Let them stand."
Then Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men now stand and have a contest before us." And Joab said, "Let them stand."
New American Standard Bible
Then Abner said to Joab, "Now have the young men arise and hold a martial skills match in our presence." And Joab said, "Have them arise!"
Then Abner said to Joab, "Now have the young men arise and hold a martial skills match in our presence." And Joab said, "Have them arise!"
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Abner saide to Ioab, Let the yong men nowe arise, and play before vs. And Ioab said, Let them arise.
Then Abner saide to Ioab, Let the yong men nowe arise, and play before vs. And Ioab said, Let them arise.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then Abner said to Joab, "Now let the young men arise and hold a contest before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise."
Then Abner said to Joab, "Now let the young men arise and hold a contest before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise."
Contemporary English Version
Abner yelled to Joab, "Let's have some of our best soldiers get up and fight each other!" Joab agreed,
Abner yelled to Joab, "Let's have some of our best soldiers get up and fight each other!" Joab agreed,
Complete Jewish Bible
Avner said to Yo'av, "If it's all right with you, let's have the young men get up and fight it out between themselves, while we watch." Yo'av said, "Yes, let them."
Avner said to Yo'av, "If it's all right with you, let's have the young men get up and fight it out between themselves, while we watch." Yo'av said, "Yes, let them."
Darby Translation
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise and make sport before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise and make sport before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
Easy-to-Read Version
Abner said to Joab, "Let's have the young soldiers get up and have a contest here." Joab said, "Yes, let's have a contest."
Abner said to Joab, "Let's have the young soldiers get up and have a contest here." Joab said, "Yes, let's have a contest."
George Lamsa Translation
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
Literal Translation
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men rise up now and play before us. And Joab said, Let them rise.
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men rise up now and play before us. And Joab said, Let them rise.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Abner sayde vnto Ioab: Let the yonge me get them vp, and playe before vs. Ioab sayde: Let them aryse.
And Abner sayde vnto Ioab: Let the yonge me get them vp, and playe before vs. Ioab sayde: Let them aryse.
American Standard Version
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men, I pray thee, arise and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men, I pray thee, arise and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
Bible in Basic English
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men give a test of their strength before us. And Joab said, Let them do so.
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men give a test of their strength before us. And Joab said, Let them do so.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Abner sayde to Ioab: Let the young men nowe aryse, and play before vs. And Ioab sayde: Let them aryse.
And Abner sayde to Ioab: Let the young men nowe aryse, and play before vs. And Ioab sayde: Let them aryse.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Abner said to Joab: 'Let the young men, I pray thee, arise and play before us.' And Joab said: 'Let them arise.'
And Abner said to Joab: 'Let the young men, I pray thee, arise and play before us.' And Joab said: 'Let them arise.'
King James Version (1611)
And Abner said to Ioab, Let the yong men now arise, and play before vs: and Ioab saide, Let them arise.
And Abner said to Ioab, Let the yong men now arise, and play before vs: and Ioab saide, Let them arise.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Abenner said to Joab, Let now the young men arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
And Abenner said to Joab, Let now the young men arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
English Revised Version
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men, I pray thee, arise and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men, I pray thee, arise and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
Berean Standard Bible
Then Abner said to Joab, "Let us have the young men get up and compete before us." "Let them get up," Joab replied.
Then Abner said to Joab, "Let us have the young men get up and compete before us." "Let them get up," Joab replied.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Abner seide to Joab, `The children rise, and plei befor us. And Joab answeride, Rise thei.
And Abner seide to Joab, `The children rise, and plei befor us. And Joab answeride, Rise thei.
Young's Literal Translation
And Abner saith unto Joab, `Let the youths rise, I pray thee, and they play before us;' and Joab saith, `Let them rise.'
And Abner saith unto Joab, `Let the youths rise, I pray thee, and they play before us;' and Joab saith, `Let them rise.'
Update Bible Version
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men, I pray you, arise and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men, I pray you, arise and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
World English Bible
Abner said to Joab, Please let the young men arise and play before us. Joab said, Let them arise.
Abner said to Joab, Please let the young men arise and play before us. Joab said, Let them arise.
New King James Version
Then Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men now arise and compete before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise."
Then Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men now arise and compete before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise."
New Living Translation
Then Abner suggested to Joab, "Let's have a few of our warriors fight hand to hand here in front of us." "All right," Joab agreed.
Then Abner suggested to Joab, "Let's have a few of our warriors fight hand to hand here in front of us." "All right," Joab agreed.
New Life Bible
Then Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men get up and have a test of strength in front of us." And Joab said, "Let them get up."
Then Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men get up and have a test of strength in front of us." And Joab said, "Let them get up."
New Revised Standard
Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men come forward and have a contest before us." Joab said, "Let them come forward."
Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men come forward and have a contest before us." Joab said, "Let them come forward."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then said Abner unto Joab, Let the young men arise, I pray thee, and make sport before us. And Joab said - Let them arise.
Then said Abner unto Joab, Let the young men arise, I pray thee, and make sport before us. And Joab said - Let them arise.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Abner said to Joab: Let the young men rise, and play before us. And Joab answered: Let them rise.
And Abner said to Joab: Let the young men rise, and play before us. And Joab answered: Let them rise.
Revised Standard Version
And Abner said to Jo'ab, "Let the young men arise and play before us." And Jo'ab said, "Let them arise."
And Abner said to Jo'ab, "Let the young men arise and play before us." And Jo'ab said, "Let them arise."
THE MESSAGE
Abner challenged Joab, "Put up your best fighters. Let's see them do their stuff." Joab said, "Good! Let them go at it!"
Abner challenged Joab, "Put up your best fighters. Let's see them do their stuff." Joab said, "Good! Let them go at it!"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then Abner said to Joab, "Now let the young men arise and hold a contest before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise."
Then Abner said to Joab, "Now let the young men arise and hold a contest before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise."
Contextual Overview
8 The commander of Saul's army, Abner son of Ner, had fled with Saul's son Ishbosheth across the Jordan to Mahanaim. 9 There Abner made Ishbosheth king of the territories of Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin, and indeed over all Israel. 10 He was forty years old when he was made king of Israel, and he ruled for two years. But the tribe of Judah was loyal to David, 11 and he ruled in Hebron over Judah for seven and a half years. 12 Abner and the officials of Ishbosheth went from Mahanaim to the city of Gibeon. 13 Joab, whose mother was Zeruiah, and David's other officials met them at the pool, where they all sat down, one group on one side of the pool and the other group on the opposite side. 14 Abner said to Joab, "Let's have some of the young men from each side fight an armed contest." "All right," Joab answered. 15 So twelve men, representing Ishbosheth and the tribe of Benjamin, fought twelve of David's men. 16 Each man caught his opponent by the head and plunged his sword into his opponent's side, so that all twenty-four of them fell down dead together. And so that place in Gibeon is called "Field of Swords." 17 Then a furious battle broke out, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated by David's men.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
play before: 2 Samuel 2:17, 2 Samuel 2:26, 2 Samuel 2:27, Proverbs 10:23, Proverbs 17:14, Proverbs 20:18, Proverbs 25:8, Proverbs 26:18, Proverbs 26:19
Reciprocal: Judges 9:29 - Increase thine army 1 Samuel 14:12 - Come up to us 2 Kings 14:8 - Come 2 Chronicles 25:17 - let us see
Cross-References
Genesis 10:11
From that land he went to Assyria and built the cities of Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah,
From that land he went to Assyria and built the cities of Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah,
Genesis 10:22
Shem's sons—Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram—were the ancestors of the peoples who bear their names.
Shem's sons—Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram—were the ancestors of the peoples who bear their names.
Genesis 15:18
Then and there the Lord made a covenant with Abram. He said, "I promise to give your descendants all this land from the border of Egypt to the Euphrates River,
Then and there the Lord made a covenant with Abram. He said, "I promise to give your descendants all this land from the border of Egypt to the Euphrates River,
Genesis 25:18
The descendants of Ishmael lived in the territory between Havilah and Shur, to the east of Egypt on the way to Assyria. They lived apart from the other descendants of Abraham.
The descendants of Ishmael lived in the territory between Havilah and Shur, to the east of Egypt on the way to Assyria. They lived apart from the other descendants of Abraham.
Deuteronomy 1:7
Break camp and move on. Go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all the surrounding regions—to the Jordan Valley, to the hill country and the lowlands, to the southern region, and to the Mediterranean coast. Go to the land of Canaan and on beyond the Lebanon Mountains as far as the great Euphrates River.
Break camp and move on. Go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all the surrounding regions—to the Jordan Valley, to the hill country and the lowlands, to the southern region, and to the Mediterranean coast. Go to the land of Canaan and on beyond the Lebanon Mountains as far as the great Euphrates River.
Deuteronomy 11:24
All the ground that you march over will be yours. Your territory will extend from the desert in the south to the Lebanon Mountains in the north, and from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.
All the ground that you march over will be yours. Your territory will extend from the desert in the south to the Lebanon Mountains in the north, and from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.
Daniel 10:4
On the twenty-fourth day of the first month of the year I was standing on the bank of the mighty Tigris River.
On the twenty-fourth day of the first month of the year I was standing on the bank of the mighty Tigris River.
Revelation 9:14
The voice said to the sixth angel, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great Euphrates River!"
The voice said to the sixth angel, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great Euphrates River!"
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And Abner said to Joab,.... Perceiving he made no motion towards an engagement with him, his orders from David being only to act on the defensive, and avoid as much as possible the effusion of blood:
let the young men now arise, and play before us; with their swords after the manner of gladiators or duellers; that it might appear who were best skilled in the use of the sword, and who were the bravest, stoutest, and most courageous; and this he proposed in a way of bravado, and in order to bring on a battle, or to decide the quarrel between them; and this bloody barbarous exercise Abner calls play, as if it was a diversion and pastime to see men wounding and killing one another:
and Joab said, let them arise; he accepted the challenge, not caring to be hectored and bullied by Abner.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Play - (Compare Judges 16:25; 1 Samuel 18:7). Here, the word is applied to the serious game of war, to be played by twelve combatants on each side, with the two armies for spectators.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 2 Samuel 2:14. Let the young men - play before us. — This was diabolical play, where each man thrust his sword into the body of the other, so that the twenty-four (twelve on each side) fell down dead together! But this was the signal for that sanguinary skirmish which immediately took place.
