Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025
the Fourth Week of Advent
the Fourth Week of Advent
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New Century Version
2 Samuel 2:14
Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men have a contest here." Joab said, "Yes, let them have a contest."
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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 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.
Good News Translation
Abner said to Joab, "Let's have some of the young men from each side fight an armed contest." "All right," Joab answered.
Abner said to Joab, "Let's have some of the young men from each side fight an armed contest." "All right," Joab answered.
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 Abner son of Ner was the commander of Saul's army. Abner took Saul's son Ish-Bosheth to Mahanaim 9 and made him king of Gilead, Ashuri, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all Israel. 10 Saul's son Ish-Bosheth was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he ruled two years. But the people of Judah followed David. 11 David was king in Hebron for seven years and six months. 12 Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. 13 Joab son of Zeruiah and David's men also went there and met Abner and Ish-Bosheth's men at the pool of Gibeon. Abner's group sat on one side of the pool; Joab's group sat on the other. 14 Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men have a contest here." Joab said, "Yes, let them have a contest." 15 Then the men got up and were counted—twelve from the people of Benjamin for Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from David's men. 16 Each man grabbed the one opposite him by the head and stabbed him in the side with a knife. So the men fell down together. For that reason, that place in Gibeon is called the Field of Knives. 17 That day there was a terrible battle, and David's men defeated Abner and the Israelites.
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 there he went to Assyria, where he built the cities of Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, and Calah.
From there he went to Assyria, where he built the cities of Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, and Calah.
Genesis 10:22
The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.
The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.
Genesis 15:18
So on that day the Lord made an agreement with Abram and said, "I will give to your descendants the land between the river of Egypt and the great river Euphrates.
So on that day the Lord made an agreement with Abram and said, "I will give to your descendants the land between the river of Egypt and the great river Euphrates.
Genesis 25:18
His descendants lived from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt stretching toward Assyria. They often attacked the descendants of his brothers.
His descendants lived from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt stretching toward Assyria. They often attacked the descendants of his brothers.
Deuteronomy 1:7
Get ready, and go to the mountain country of the Amorites, and to all the places around there—the Jordan Valley, the mountains, the western hills, the southern area, the seacoast, the land of Canaan, and Lebanon. Go as far as the great river, the Euphrates.
Get ready, and go to the mountain country of the Amorites, and to all the places around there—the Jordan Valley, the mountains, the western hills, the southern area, the seacoast, the land of Canaan, and Lebanon. Go as far as the great river, the Euphrates.
Deuteronomy 11:24
Everywhere you step will be yours. Your land will go from the desert to Lebanon and from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea.
Everywhere you step will be yours. Your land will go from the desert to Lebanon and from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea.
Daniel 10:4
On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was standing beside the great Tigris River.
On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was standing beside the great Tigris River.
Revelation 9:14
The voice said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Free the four angels who are tied at the great river Euphrates."
The voice said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Free the four angels who are tied at the great river Euphrates."
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.
