CHAPTER 2
Some 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.
So David
went
there
with his two
wives,
Ahinoam
of Jezreel
and Abigail,
the widow
of Nabal
of Carmel.
David also
took
the men
who
were with him,
each
with his household,
and they settled
in the towns
near Hebron.
Then 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.”
So David
sent
messengers
to
the men
of Jabesh-gilead
to tell
them,
“The LORD
bless
you,
because
you have shown
this
kindness
to
Saul
your lord
when you buried him.
Now
may the LORD
show
you
loving devotion
and truth,
and I
will also
show
you
the same
favor
because
you have done
this.
Now then,
be strong
and courageous,
for
though Saul
your lord
is dead,
the house
of Judah
has anointed me
as their king.”
Meanwhile, Abner
son
of Ner,
the commander
of Saul’s
army,
took
Saul’s
son
Ish-bosheth,
moved him
to Mahanaim,
Saul’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.
And the length
of time
that
David
was
king
in Hebron
over
the house
of Judah
was seven
years
and six
months.
One day Abner
son
of Ner
and the servants
of Ish-bosheth
son
of Saul
marched out
from Mahanaim
to Gibeon.
So Joab
son
of Zeruiah,
along with the servants
of David,
marched out
and met them
by
the pool
of Gibeon.
And the two camps
took up positions
on
opposite sides
of the pool.
Then Abner
said
to
Joab,
“Let us have the young men
get up
and compete
before us.”
“Let them get up,”
Joab
replied.
So they got up
and were counted off—
twelve
for Benjamin
and Ish-bosheth
son
of Saul,
and twelve
for David.
Then 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
the Field of Swords.
The battle
that
day
was
intense,
and Abner
and the men
of Israel
were defeated
by
the servants
of David.
The three
sons
of Zeruiah
were
there:
Joab,
Abishai,
and Asahel.
Now Asahel
was fleet
of foot
like a
wild
gazelle,
So 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.
Once 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?”
But 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.
But 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.
Then 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?”
“As surely as God
lives,”
Joab
replied,
“if you had not
spoken up,
the troops
would have continued
pursuing
their brothers
until morning.”
So Joab
blew
the trumpet,
and all
the troops
stopped;
they no
longer
pursued
Israel
or continued
to fight.
And all
that
night
Abner
and his men
marched
through the Arabah.
They crossed
the Jordan,
marched
all
morning,
and arrived
at Mahanaim.
When Joab
returned
from pursuing
Abner,
he gathered
all
the troops.
In addition to Asahel,
nineteen
of David’s
servants
were missing,
Later, 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.