2 Samuel 2:17 bbe — And there was hard fighting that day; and Abner and the men of Israel gave way before the servants of David.

Bible in Basic English

"And there was hard fighting that day; and Abner and the men of Israel gave way before the servants of David."

— 2 Samuel 2:17, Bible in Basic English

Read in Another Translation

5 of 21 translations

2 Samuel 2 — Context

And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men give a test of their strength before us. And Joab said, Let them do so.

So they got up and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth and twelve of the servants of David.

And every one got the other by the head, driving his sword into the other's side, so they all went down together: and that place was named the Field of Sides, and it is in Gibeon.

And there was hard fighting that day; and Abner and the men of Israel gave way before the servants of David.

There were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel: and Asahel was as quick-footed as a roe of the fields.

Asahel went running after Abner, not turning to the right or to the left.

Then Abner, looking back, said, Is it you, Asahel? And he said, It is I.

2 Samuel 2:17 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions

What does 2 Samuel 2:17 say?

2 Samuel 2:17 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “And there was hard fighting that day; and Abner and the men of Israel gave way before the servants of David.”

Where is 2 Samuel 2:17 in the Bible?

2 Samuel 2:17 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 2, verse 17.

Who wrote 2 Samuel?

2 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Nathan and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.

What is the book of 2 Samuel about?

2 Samuel records David's reign — his rise to the throne, the conquest of Jerusalem, the eternal covenant God makes with his house, and the moral failure with Bathsheba that fractures his family. From the highs of triumph to the depths of repentance, David remains the messianic prototype.

What are the major themes of 2 Samuel?

2 Samuel explores themes including Davidic Covenant, Sin & Repentance, Kingdom, Mercy, Consequences. These themes shape the meaning and context of 2 Samuel 2:17.

What translation should I read 2 Samuel 2:17 in?

2 Samuel 2:17 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.

How can I memorize 2 Samuel 2:17?

2 Samuel 2:17 reads (BBE): “And there was hard fighting that day; and Abner and the men of Israel gave way before the servants of David.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.

2 Samuel 2:17 bbe — And there was hard fighting that day; and Abner and the men of Israel gave way before the servants of David.

Read in Another Translation

2 Samuel 2 — Context

2 Samuel 2:17 — Frequently Asked Questions

Choose Theme

Light Themes 19

Dark Themes 11

Colorful Themes 2