Abner survives the battle against the Philistines, though it’s unclear how, and tries to maintain Saul’s family’s power by making Ishbaal king of Israel. This leads to a conflict between David’s supporters and Ishbaal’s followers. The episodes in 2:12-32 are difficult to interpret—are they two separate events or part of one story: the challenge and the battle? Is it a fight to the death with military results or a tournament that ends tragically? Is the second part about chasing a fleeing enemy or testing speed and skill?
It’s a battle where the fighters don’t want to lose many men, and a truce is suggested.