2 Kings 2
2
1And after these things David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go up into one of the cities of Juda? And the Lord said to him: Go up. And David said: Whither shall I go up? And he answered him: Into Hebron.
2So David went up, and his two wives, Achinoam the Jezrahelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel.
3And the men also that were with him. David brought up every man with his household: and they abode in the towns of Hebron.
4And the men of Juda came, and anointed David there, to be king over the house of Juda. And it was told David, that the men of Jabes Galaad had buried Saul.
5David therefore sent messengers to the men of Jabes Galaad, and said to them: Blessed be you to the Lord, who have shewn this mercy to your master Saul, and have buried him.
6And now the Lord surely will render you mercy and truth; and I also will requite you for this good turn, because you have done this thing.
7Let your hands be strengthened; and be ye men of valour: for although your master Saul be dead, yet the house of Juda hath anointed me to be their king.
8But Abner the son of Ner, general of Saul's army, took Isboseth the son of Saul, and led him about through the camp,
9And made him king over Galaad, and, over Gessuri, and over Jezrahel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
10Isboseth the son of Saul was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel. And he reigned two years; and only the house of Juda followed David.
11And the number of the days that David abode, reigning in Hebron over the house of Juda, was seven years and six months.
12And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Isboseth the son of Saul, went out from the camp to Gabaon.
13And Joab the son of Sarvia, and the servants of David went out, and met them by the pool of Gabaon. And when they were come together, they sat down over against one another: the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side.
14And Abner said to Joab: Let the young men rise, and play before us. And Joab answered: Let them rise.
15Then there arose and went over twelve in number of Benjamin, of the part of Isboseth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
16And every one, catching his fellow, by the head, thrust his sword into the side of his adversary: and they fell down together. And the name of the place was called: The field of the valiant, in Gabaon.
17And there was a very fierce battle that day: and Abner was put to flight, with the men of Israel, by the servants of David.
18And there were the three sons of Sarvia there, Joab, and Abisai, and Asael. Now Asael was a most swift runner, like one of the roes that abide in the woods.
19And Asael pursued after Abner, and turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
20And Abner looked behind him, and said: Art thou Asael? And he answered: I am.
21And Abner said to him: Go to the right hand or to the left, and lay hold on one of the young men and take thee his spoils. But Asael would not leave off following him close.
22And again Abner said to Asael: Go off, and do not follow me, lest I be obliged to stab thee to the ground; and I shall not be able to hold up my face to Joab thy brother.
23But he refused to hearken to him, and would not turn aside. Wherefore Abner struck him with his spear with a back stroke in the groin, and thrust him through. And he died upon the spot: and all that came to the place where Asael fell down and died, stood still.
24Now while Joab and Abisai pursued after Abner, the sun went down. And they came as far as the hill of the aqueduct, that lieth over against the valley by the way of the wilderness in Gabaon.
25And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together to Abner: and being joined in one body they stood on the top of a hill.
26And Abner cried out to Joab, and said: Shall thy sword rage unto utter destruction? Knowest thou not that it is dangerous to drive people to despair? How long dost thou defer to bid the people cease from pursuing after their brethren?
27And Joab said: As the Lord liveth, if thou hadst spoke sooner, even in the morning the people should have retired from pursuing after their brethren.
28Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and all the army stood still, and did not pursue after Israel any farther, nor fight any more.
29And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plains. And they passed the Jordan: and having gone through all Beth-horon came to the camp.
30And Joab returning, after he had left Abner, assembled all the people: and there were wanting of David's servants nineteen men, beside Asael.
31But the servants of David had killed of Benjamin, and of the men that were with Abner, three hundred and sixty, who all died.
32And they took Asael, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father in Bethlehem. And Joab, and the men that were with him, marched all the night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.
2 Samuel 2
2
David Becomes King of Judah
1After this, David asked the Lord, “Should I go to one of the cities of Judah?”
“Go,” the Lord answered him.
“Where should I go?” David asked.
“To Hebron,” the Lord replied.
2David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail (who had been Nabal’s wife) from Carmel. 3David took his men and their families with him, and they settled in the towns around Hebron. 4Then the people of Judah came to Hebron and anointed David to be king over the tribe of Judah.
They told David, “The people of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.” 5So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh Gilead. He said to them, “May the Lord bless you because you showed kindness to your master Saul by burying him. 6May the Lord always show you kindness. I, too, will be good to you because you did this. 7Now, be strong and courageous. Because your master Saul is dead, the tribe of Judah has anointed me to be their king.”
Abner Makes Ishbosheth King of Israel
8Ner’s son Abner, commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ishbosheth #2:8 Masoretic Text; 1 Chronicles 8:33; 9:39, Greek “Ishbaal.” and brought him to Mahanaim. 9Abner made him king of Gilead, Asher,#2:9 Or “the Ashurites.” Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin, that is, all Israel. 10Saul’s son Ishbosheth was 40 years old when he became king of Israel. He ruled for two years, but the tribe of Judah followed David. 11In Hebron David was king over the tribe of Judah for seven years and six months.
Conflicts between Abner and Joab
12Ner’s son Abner and the officers of Saul’s son Ishbosheth went from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13Zeruiah’s son Joab and David’s officers also left ⌞Hebron⌟. Both groups met at the pool of Gibeon. They sat down there, one group on one side of the pool and the other group on the other side of the pool.
14Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have the young men hold a contest.” Joab agreed.
15The men got up and were counted as they passed by. Twelve were from the tribe of Benjamin (representing Saul’s son Ishbosheth), and twelve were from David’s officers. 16Each one grabbed his opponent by the head, stuck his sword into his opponent’s side, and they fell down together. Therefore, that place in Gibeon is called the Field of Enemies. 17Fierce fighting broke out that day, and David’s men defeated Abner and the men of Israel.
18Zeruiah’s three sons were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as fast on his feet as a wild gazelle. 19He chased Abner and refused to leave him alone. 20When Abner looked back, he asked, “Are you Asahel?”
“Yes,” Asahel answered.
21Abner told him, “Leave me alone! Catch one of the young men, and take his weapon.”
But Asahel refused to turn away from him. 22So Abner spoke again to Asahel. “Stop following me,” he said. “Why should I kill you? How could I look your brother Joab in the face again?”
23But Asahel refused to turn away. So Abner struck him with the butt of the spear. The spear went into his belly and came out his back. He fell down there and died on the spot. And everyone who came to the place where Asahel fell and died stopped there.
24But Joab and Abishai chased Abner. When the sun went down, they came to the hill of Ammah, opposite Giah on the road from Gibeon to the desert. 25The men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner, banding together and taking their position on top of a hill.
26Then Abner called to Joab, “Should this slaughter go on forever? Don’t you know this will end in bitterness? How long will it be before you will call off your troops from chasing their relatives?”
27Joab answered, “I solemnly swear, as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would not have stopped chasing their relatives until morning.” 28So Joab blew a ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped. They didn’t chase or fight Israel anymore.
29Abner and his men marched through the plains all that night. They crossed the Jordan River and passed through the entire Bithron until they came to Mahanaim.
30Joab returned from chasing Abner. When he had gathered all the troops, ⌞only⌟ 19 of David’s officers and Asahel were missing. 31However, David’s officers had killed 360 of the men of Benjamin under Abner’s command. 32They took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.
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