2Sa 2:14-16 | KD | STEP | Abner then proposed to Joab that the contest should be decided by a single combat, probably for the purpose of avoiding an actual civil war. “Let the young men arise and wrestle before us.” שׂחק, to joke or play, is used here to denote the war-play of single combat. As Joab accepted this proposal, twelve young warriors for Benjamin and Ishbosheth, and twelve from David’s men, went over, i.e., went out of the two camps to the appointed scene of conflict; “and one seized the other’s head, and his sword was (immediately) in the side of the other (his antagonist), so that they fell together.” The clause רעהוּ בּצד וחרבּו is a circumstantial clause: and his sword (every one’s sword) was in the side of the other, i.e., thrust into it. Sending the sword into the opponent’s side is thus described as simultaneous with the seizure of his head. The ancient translators expressed the meaning by supplying a verb (ἐνέπηξαν, defixit : lxx, Vulg. ). This was a sign that the young men on both sides fought with great ferocity, and also with great courage. The place itself received the name of Helkath-hazzurim , “field of the sharp edges,” in consequence (for this use of zur , see ).

‏ 2 Samuel 2:14-16

Abner then proposed to Joab that the contest should be decided by a single combat, probably for the purpose of avoiding an actual civil war. “Let the young men arise and wrestle before us.” שׂחק, to joke or play, is used here to denote the war-play of single combat. As Joab accepted this proposal, twelve young warriors for Benjamin and Ishbosheth, and twelve from David’s men, went over, i.e., went out of the two camps to the appointed scene of conflict; “and one seized the other’s head, and his sword was (immediately)in the side of the other (his antagonist), so that they fell together.” The clause רעהוּ בּצד וחרבּו is a circumstantial clause: and his sword (every one’s sword) was in the side of the other, i.e., thrust into it. Sending the sword into the opponent’s side is thus described as simultaneous with the seizure of his head. The ancient translators expressed the meaning by supplying a verb (ἐνέπηξαν, defixit: lxx, Vulg.). This was a sign that the young men on both sides fought with great ferocity, and also with great courage. The place itself received the name of Helkath-hazzurim, “field of the sharp edges,” in consequence (for this use of zur, see Psa 89:44).