2 Samuel 2:8 Meaning and Explanation
“But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Abner, commander of Saul's army, takes Saul's son Ishbosheth across the Jordan to Mahanaim to set up a rival kingship.
What Does 2 Samuel 2:8 Mean?
The word 'but' turns the story. While Judah anoints David, Abner, the powerful commander of Saul's army, takes Saul's surviving son Ishbosheth and brings him across the Jordan to Mahanaim. Mahanaim was a defensible city east of the river, a safe base from which to assert the old dynasty's claim against David.
Two thrones now stand where God has appointed one. Human ambition often raises its own structures alongside what God is building, and Abner's maneuver sets the stage for a long struggle. Yet the reader already knows whose kingship the LORD has chosen. What men prop up by their own strength cannot finally stand against what God has established.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 2:8
What does 2 Samuel 2:8 mean?
Abner, commander of Saul's army, takes Saul's son Ishbosheth across the Jordan to Mahanaim to set up a rival kingship.