The Meaning of 2 Samuel 2:32 Explained

2 Samuel 2:32

KJV: And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

YLT: And they lift up Asahel, and bury him in the burying-place of his father, which is in Beth-Lehem, and they go all the night -- Joab and his men -- and it is light to them in Hebron.

Darby: And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

ASV: And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and the day brake upon them at Hebron.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they took up  Asahel,  and buried  him in the sepulchre  of his father,  which [was in] Bethlehem.  And Joab  and his men  went  all night,  and they came to Hebron  at break of day. 

What does 2 Samuel 2:32 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 2:24-32 - Shall The Sword Devour For Ever?
The longer the sword devours, the more bitter the hatred engendered. Early that morning, each of twenty-four young men had buried his sword in his antagonist's heart; and, as the hours passed, the flame of mutual hate had become hotter. There was no telling to what it might lead. Hatred is like a prairie fire in its rapid spread and remorseless destruction.
When night fell, Abner, alarmed by the prospects of slaughter, asked Joab to stay the pursuit. Otherwise, Joab would have fought through the night. However, he drew off his men, and Abner, still dreading his wrath, by a forced march crossed the Jordan that night.
Abner's reference to the insatiate lust of the sword for human life reminds us, by force of contrast, of the hunger of Christ to seek and to save that which is lost. His appetite to save is a consuming passion. It is His meat and drink to win souls to the eternal life that he is commissioned to impart. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 2

1  David, by God's direction, with his company goes up to Hebron
4  where he is made king of Judah
5  He commends them of Jabesh Gilead for their king of Israel
8  Abner makes Ishbosheth king of Israel
12  A mortal skirmish between twelve of Abner's and twelve of Joab's men
18  Asahel is slain
25  At Abner's motion, Joab sounds a retreat
32  Asahel's burial

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 2:32 mean?

And they took up - Asahel and buried him in tomb of his father that [was] [in] Bethlehem And went all night Joab and his men and at daybreak they came to Hebron
וַיִּשְׂאוּ֙ אֶת־ עֲשָׂהאֵ֔ל וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻ֙הוּ֙ בְּקֶ֣בֶר אָבִ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֖ר בֵּ֣ית לָ֑חֶם וַיֵּלְכ֣וּ כָל־ הַלַּ֗יְלָה יוֹאָב֙ וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֔יו וַיֵּאֹ֥ר לָהֶ֖ם בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן

וַיִּשְׂאוּ֙  And  they  took  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עֲשָׂהאֵ֔ל  Asahel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֲשָׂהאֵל  
Sense: nephew of David, son of David’s sister Zeruiah, and brother of Joab and Abishai; swift of foot he was killed by Abner when he pursued him in battle and caught him.
וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻ֙הוּ֙  and  buried  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person masculine singular
Root: קָבַר  
Sense: to bury.
בְּקֶ֣בֶר  in  tomb 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֶבֶר  
Sense: grave, sepulchre, tomb.
אָבִ֔יו  of  his  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
אֲשֶׁ֖ר  that  [was] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
לָ֑חֶם  Bethlehem 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֵּית לֶחֶם  
Sense: a city in Judah, birthplace of David.
וַיֵּלְכ֣וּ  And  went 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
הַלַּ֗יְלָה  night 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַיִל 
Sense: night.
יוֹאָב֙  Joab 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄואָב  
Sense: son of David’s sister Zeruiah and general of David’s army.
וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֔יו  and  his  men 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
וַיֵּאֹ֥ר  and  at  daybreak 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֹור  
Sense: to be or become light, shine.
לָהֶ֖ם  they  came 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן  to  Hebron 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶבְרֹון 
Sense: a city in south Judah approx 20 south of Jerusalem and approx 20 miles (30 km) north of Beersheba and near where Abraham built an altar.