Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

2 SAMUEL 2:24KJV
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2 Samuel 2:24 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 2:24 mean?

2 Samuel 2:24 describes Joab and Abishai continuing to chase Abner as daylight ends. The pursuit takes place during a fight between men loyal to David and men following Abner, who supports Saul’s son Ish-bosheth.

The hill of Ammah gives the pursuit a specific location, while sunset marks how late the fighting has continued. The narrator places the hill near Giah, along the route toward the wilderness of Gibeon, helping the first listeners picture the chase across the countryside.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 2:24

  • “wilderness” — מִדְבָּר (midbar): This word often refers to open, sparsely settled land used for grazing. It need not mean a desert of sand; here it describes the country reached by the route from Gibeon.

Why 2 Samuel 2:24 matters

  • The chase continues despite a death within Joab’s family. In the preceding verses, Abner kills Asahel, the brother of Joab and Abishai, after Asahel pursues him.
  • The sunset sets the scene for a halt in the fighting. Soon afterward, Abner calls to Joab from a hill, asking whether the fighting must continue, and Joab sounds a trumpet to stop his men (verses 25–28).

Where else these words appear

“Abishai” Hebrew H52 · used in 24 verses

  • 1 Samuel 26:6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
  • 2 Samuel 10:14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
  • 2 Samuel 20:10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

“Gibeon” Hebrew H1391 · used in 35 verses

  • Joshua 9:3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
  • Joshua 18:25 Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
  • 1 Chronicles 9:35 And in Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife's name was Maachah:

“Abner” Hebrew H74 · used in 53 verses

  • 1 Samuel 14:50 And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
  • 2 Samuel 2:23 Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
  • 2 Samuel 3:22 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.

“hill” Hebrew H1389 · used in 69 verses

  • Genesis 49:26 The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
  • Psalms 72:3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
  • Jeremiah 13:27 I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?