2 Samuel 2:17 net — Now the battle was very severe that day; Abner and the men of Israel were overcome by David’s soldiers.

NET Bible

"Now the battle was very severe that day; Abner and the men of Israel were overcome by David’s soldiers."

— 2 Samuel 2:17, NET Bible

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2 Samuel 2:17 in Other Translations

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2 Samuel 2 — Context

14

Abner said to Joab,“Let the soldiers get up and fight before us.” Joab said,“So be it!”

15

So they got up and crossed over by number: twelve belonging to Benjamin and to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.

16

As they grappled with one another, each one stabbed his opponent with his sword and they fell dead together. So that place is called the Field of Flints; it is in Gibeon.

17

Now the battle was very severe that day; Abner and the men of Israel were overcome by David’s soldiers.

18

The three sons of Zeruiah were there– Joab, Abishai, and Asahel.(Now Asahel was as quick on his feet as one of the gazelles in the field.)

19

Asahel chased Abner, without turning to the right or to the left as he followed Abner.

20

Then Abner turned and asked,“Is that you, Asahel?” He replied,“Yes it is!”

2 Samuel 2:17 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Samuel 2:17 say?
2 Samuel 2:17 in the NET Bible reads: “Now the battle was very severe that day; Abner and the men of Israel were overcome by David’s soldiers.”
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 (NET): “Now the battle was very severe that day; Abner and the men of Israel were overcome by David’s soldiers.” 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.
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