KJV ORIGINAL
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Abner said to Joab, 'Let the young soldiers get up and compete in front of us.' And Joab replied, 'Yes, let them do it.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse shows two military commanders agreeing to have their young warriors engage in what appears to be a deadly contest or combat competition.
📚 Historical Context
This takes place during the civil war in Israel after King Saul's death, when David's forces (led by Joab) faced Saul's remaining supporters (led by Abner) at the pool of Gibeon. What seemed like a sporting competition between young warriors quickly turned into brutal combat that escalated the conflict between the two sides.
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