2 Samuel 2

David Becomes King of Judah

1 After 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.2 David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail (who had been Nabal’s wife) from Carmel.3 David took his men and their families with him, and they settled in the towns around Hebron.

4 Then 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.”5 So 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.6 May the Lord always show you kindness. I, too, will be good to you because you did this.

7 Now, 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

8 Ner’s son Abner, commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ishboshetht and brought him to Mahanaim.9 Abner made him king of Gilead, Asher,t Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin, that is, all Israel.10 Saul’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.

11 In Hebron David was king over the tribe of Judah for seven years and six months.

Conflicts Between Abner and Joab

12 Ner’s son Abner and the officers of Saul’s son Ishbosheth went from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

13 Zeruiah’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.
14 Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have the young men hold a contest.” Joab agreed.15 The 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.16 Each 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.

17 Fierce fighting broke out that day, and David’s men defeated Abner and the men of Israel.
18 Zeruiah’s three sons were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as fast on his feet as a wild gazelle.19 He chased Abner and refused to leave him alone.

20 When Abner looked back, he asked, “Are you Asahel?”
“Yes,” Asahel answered.21 Abner told him, “Leave me alone! Catch one of the young men, and take his weapon.”tBut Asahel refused to turn away from him.

22 So 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?”
23 But 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.24 But 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.

25 The men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner, banding together and taking their position on top of a hill.
26 Then 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?”27 Joab answered, “I solemnly swear, as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would not have stopped chasing their relatives until morning.”

28 So Joab blew a ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped. They didn’t chase or fight Israel anymore.
29 Abner 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.30 Joab returned from chasing Abner. When he had gathered all the troops, only 19 of David’s officers and Asahel were missing.31 However, David’s officers had killed 360 of the men of Benjamin under Abner’s command.

32 They 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.

2 Samuel 2

David is Anointed King

1 Afterward David inquired of the Lord, “Should I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” The Lord told him, “Go up.” David asked, “Where should I go?” The Lord replied,t “To Hebron.”2 So David went up, along with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail, formerly the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.3 David also brought along the men who were with him, each with his family. They settled in the citiess of Hebron.

4 The men of Judah came and there they anointed David as king over the peoplet of Judah.
David was told,t “The peoplet of Jabesh Gilead are the ones who buried Saul.”5 So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh Gilead and told them, “May you be blessed by the Lord because you have shown this kindnesst to your lord Saul by burying him.6 Now may the Lord show you true kindness!t I also will reward you,t because you have done this deed.

7 Now be courageoust and prove to be valiant warriors, for your lord Saul is dead. The people of Judah have anointed me as king over them.”

David’s Army Clashes with the Army of Saul

8 Now Abner son of Ner, the general in command of Saul’s army, had taken Saul’s son Ish-bosheths and had brought him to Mahanaim.9 He appointed him king over Gilead, the Geshurites,s Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all Israel.10 Ish-bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he began to rule over Israel. He ruled two years. However, the peoplet of Judah followed David.

11 David was king in Hebron over the people of Judah for seven and a half years.t
12 Then Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.13 Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David also went out and confronted them at the pool of Gibeon. One group stationed themselves on one side of the pool, and the other group on the other side of the pool.

14 Abner said to Joab, “Let the soldiers get up and fightt before us.” Joab said, “So be it!”t
15 So they got up and crossed over by number: twelve belonging to Benjamin and to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.

16 As they grappled with one another, each one stabbed his opponent with his sword and they fell dead together.t So that place is called the Field of Flints;t it is in Gibeon.
17 Now the battle was very severe that day; Abner and the men of Israel were overcome by David’s soldiers.t18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there – Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. (Now Asahel was as quick on his feet as one of the gazelles in the field.)

19 Asahel chased Abner, without turning to the right or to the left as he followed Abner.
20 Then Abner turned and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?” He replied, “Yes it is!”21 Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right or to your left. Capture one of the soldierst and take his equipment for yourself!” But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him.22 So Abner spoke again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me! I do not want to strike you to the ground.t How then could I showt my face in the presence of Joab your brother?”

23 But Asahelt refused to turn aside. So Abner struck him in the abdomen with the back end of hist spear. The spear came out his back; Asahelt collapsed on the spot and died there right before Abner.t Everyone who now comes to the place where Asahel fell dead pauses in respect.t
24 So Joab and Abishai chased Abner. At sunset they came to the hill of Ammah near Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.

25 The Benjaminites formed their rankst behind Abner and were like a single army, standing at the top of a certain hill.
26 Then Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will turn bitter in the end? When will you tell the people to turn aside from pursuing their brothers?”27 Joab replied, “As surely as God lives, if you had not said this, it would have been morning before the people would have abandoned pursuitt of their brothers!”28 Then Joab blew the ram’s horn and all the people stopped in their tracks.t They stopped chasing Israel and ceased fighting.t

29 Abner and his men went through the Arabah all that night. They crossed the Jordan Rivert and went through the whole region of Bitront and came to Mahanaim.
30 Now Joab returned from chasing Abner and assembled all the people. Nineteen of David’s soldiers were missing, in addition to Asahel.31 But David’s soldiers had slaughtered the Benjaminites and Abner’s men – in all, 360 men had died!32 They took Asahel’s body and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem.s Joab and his men then traveled all that night and reached Hebron by dawn.