2 Samuel

David Anointed King of Judah

1Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” “Go up,” the LORD answered. Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To Hebron,” replied the LORD.

2So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.

3David also took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron.

4Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.”

5So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead to tell them, “The LORD bless you, because you showed this kindness to Saul your lord when you buried him.

6Now may the LORD show you loving devotionand faithfulness, and I will also show you the same favor because you have done this.

7Now then, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me as their king.”

Ish-bosheth Made King of Israel

8Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth,moved him to Mahanaim,

9and made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel.

10Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.

11And the length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

The Battle of Gibeon

12One day Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

13So Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. And the two groups took up positions on opposite sides of the pool.

14Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” “Let them get up,” Joab replied.

15So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David.

16Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side, and they all fell together. So this place, which is in Gibeon, is called Helkath-hazzurim.

17The battle that day was intense, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David.

18The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,

19and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit.

20And Abner glanced back and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” “It is,” Asahel replied.

21So Abner told him, “Turn to your right or to your left, seize one of the young men, and take his equipment for yourself.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.

22Once again, Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?”

23But Asahel refused to turn away. So Abner thrust the butt of his spear into his stomach, and it came out his back, and he fell dead on the spot. And every man paused when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.

24But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.

25The Benjamites rallied to Abner, formed a single unit, and took their stand atop a hill.

26Then Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?”

27“As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.”

28So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight.

29And all that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning,and arrived at Mahanaim.

30When Joab returned from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel, nineteen of David’s servants were missing,

31but they had struck down 360 Benjamites who were with Abner.

32And they took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.

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.