2 Samuel 2

David Made King over Judah

1 Then it came about afterwards that David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?" And the LORD said to him, "Go up." So David said, "Where shall I go up?" And He said, "To Hebron."2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.3 And David brought up his men who were with him, each with his household; and they lived in the cities of Hebron.

4 Then the men of Judah came and there anointed David king over the house of Judah.
And they told David, saying, "It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul."5 David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, "May you be blessed of the LORD because you have shown this kindness to Saul your lord, and have buried him.6 Now may the LORD show lovingkindness and truth to you; and I also will show this goodness to you, because you have done this thing.7 Now therefore, let your hands be strong and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them."

Ish-bosheth Made King over Israel

8 But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, had taken tIsh-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.9 He made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, even over all Israel.10 Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he was king for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.11 The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

Civil War

12 Now Abner the son of Ner, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon with the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul.13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, one on the one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.14 Then Abner said to Joab, "Now let the young men arise and thold a contest before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise."15 So they arose and went over by count, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.16 Each one of them seized his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent's side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called tHelkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.17 That day the battle was very severe, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.

18 Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel; and Asahel was as swift-footed as one of the gazelles which is in the field.19 Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn to the right or to the left from following Abner.20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, "Is that you, Asahel?" And he answered, "It is I."21 So Abner said to him, "Turn to your right or to your left, and take hold of one of the young men for yourself, and take for yourself his spoil." But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him.22 Abner repeated again to Asahel, "Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?"23 However, he refused to turn aside; therefore Abner struck him in the belly with the butt end of the spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died on the spot. And it came about that all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.

24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and when the sun was going down, they came to the hill of Ammah, which is in front of Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.25 The sons of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one band, and they stood on the top of a certain hill.26 Then Abner called to Joab and said, "Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long will you refrain from telling the people to turn back from following their brothers?"27 Joab said, "As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then the people would have gone away in the morning, each from following his brother."28 So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people halted and pursued Israel no longer, nor did they continue to fight anymore.29 Abner and his men then went through the Arabah all that night; so they crossed the Jordan, walked all morning, and came to Mahanaim.

30 Then Joab returned from following Abner; when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen of David's servants besides Asahel were missing.31 But the servants of David had struck down many of Benjamin and Abner's men, so that three hundred and sixty men died.32 And they took up Asahel and buried him in his father's tomb which was in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men went all night until the day dawned at Hebron.

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.