And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.

2 SAMUEL 2:29KJV
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2 Samuel 2:29 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 2:29 mean?

2 Samuel 2:29 describes Abner and his men traveling through the night after a battle with David’s men. Their journey takes them across the Jordan River to Mahanaim, the place from which Abner had been supporting Saul’s son Ish-bosheth as king.

The verse follows the end of Joab’s pursuit of Abner in verse 28. The nighttime journey and the list of places trace the men’s movement away from the battlefield.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 2:29

  • “plain” — עֲרָבָה (ʿaravah): This word can refer to a dry valley or lowland. Here it points to the Jordan valley, rather than simply an open, level field.
  • “Bithron” — בִּתְרוֹן (Bitron): The name is associated with a divided or rugged area. The KJV treats Bithron as a place through which the men traveled on their way to Mahanaim.

Why 2 Samuel 2:29 matters

  • The journey shows that Abner’s force remained together after the fighting. The verse follows “Abner and his men” as a group all the way to Mahanaim.
  • Mahanaim connects the retreat with Ish-bosheth’s rule. Earlier, Abner had brought Ish-bosheth there and made him king, as 2 Samuel 2:8–9 reports.
  • The passage records movement on both sides after the pursuit ends. Abner’s route leads to Mahanaim, while verse 32 says Joab and his men travel to Bethlehem and then Hebron.

Where else these words appear

“Mahanaim” Hebrew H4266 · used in 13 verses

  • Genesis 32:2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
  • 2 Samuel 2:8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;
  • 2 Samuel 19:32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.

“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.

“plain” Hebrew H6160 · used in 57 verses

  • Numbers 22:1 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
  • Joshua 4:13 About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
  • Psalms 68:4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.