Abner led his men away from Gibeon in the night, crossed the Jordan by dawn, and reached Mahanaim for safety.
“Then Abner and his men went through the Arabah all that night; so they crossed the Jordan, walked all morning, and came to Mahanaim.” (v.29)
This verse describes how Abner and his troops retreated under cover of darkness from the ongoing conflict in Gibeon. Abner, who served as commander of Saul’s army and was also Saul’s cousin (1 Samuel 14:50), remained loyal to the house of Saul, especially under Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, after Saul’s death (2 Samuel 2:8-9). Here, Abner and his men went through the Arabah all that night indicates they traveled southward in the low-lying region known today as the Jordan Rift Valley. This terrain could be treacherous and oppressively hot in the daytime, so traveling by night offered escape and protection. Crossing the Jordan River to the eastern side, they would then be in territory firmly under Ish-bosheth’s authority.
Continuing on foot, the company walked all morning before reaching Mahanaim. This city lay east of the Jordan in the region of Gilead, located in an area that could serve as a strategic fortress. Historically, Mahanaim was a significant fortified place, and at this time (around 1010 BC) it became a safe haven for Ish-bosheth’s followers. Abner’s arrival here signified his tactical concern to regroup and establish a more defensible position while preparing for further conflict. Scripture later recounts the central role Abner played in the fragile relations between Saul’s house and David, ultimately shifting his loyalty before being tragically killed by Joab (2 Samuel 3:31). Abner’s choice to take these men through the Arabah and across the Jordan demonstrates their need for both physical security and political leverage in times of civil strife.This verse shows how God’s sovereign hand remains active even in seasons of political tension and warfare, guiding events in ways that fulfill His purposes for Israel. Though Abner appears as a major military figure, the biblical record makes clear that true kingship belongs to the one God chooses, as eventually seen in David, whose own line leads to Jesus, the ultimate King (Matthew 1:1).
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2 Samuel 2:29 meaning
“Then Abner and his men went through the Arabah all that night; so they crossed the Jordan, walked all morning, and came to Mahanaim.” (v.29)
This verse describes how Abner and his troops retreated under cover of darkness from the ongoing conflict in Gibeon. Abner, who served as commander of Saul’s army and was also Saul’s cousin (1 Samuel 14:50), remained loyal to the house of Saul, especially under Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, after Saul’s death (2 Samuel 2:8-9). Here, Abner and his men went through the Arabah all that night indicates they traveled southward in the low-lying region known today as the Jordan Rift Valley. This terrain could be treacherous and oppressively hot in the daytime, so traveling by night offered escape and protection. Crossing the Jordan River to the eastern side, they would then be in territory firmly under Ish-bosheth’s authority.
Continuing on foot, the company walked all morning before reaching Mahanaim. This city lay east of the Jordan in the region of Gilead, located in an area that could serve as a strategic fortress. Historically, Mahanaim was a significant fortified place, and at this time (around 1010 BC) it became a safe haven for Ish-bosheth’s followers. Abner’s arrival here signified his tactical concern to regroup and establish a more defensible position while preparing for further conflict. Scripture later recounts the central role Abner played in the fragile relations between Saul’s house and David, ultimately shifting his loyalty before being tragically killed by Joab (2 Samuel 3:31). Abner’s choice to take these men through the Arabah and across the Jordan demonstrates their need for both physical security and political leverage in times of civil strife.This verse shows how God’s sovereign hand remains active even in seasons of political tension and warfare, guiding events in ways that fulfill His purposes for Israel. Though Abner appears as a major military figure, the biblical record makes clear that true kingship belongs to the one God chooses, as eventually seen in David, whose own line leads to Jesus, the ultimate King (Matthew 1:1).