|
- 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."
- So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.
- And David brought up his men who were with him, each with his household; and they lived in the cities of Hebron.
- 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."
- 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.
|
- In the course of time, David inquired of the LORD. "Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?" he asked. The LORD said, "Go up." David asked, "Where shall I go?" "To Hebron," the LORD answered.
- So David went up 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 family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns.
- Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. When David was told that it was the men of Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul,
- he sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead to say to them, "The LORD bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him.
|
- "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.
- "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."
- But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.
- He made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, even over all Israel.
- 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.
|
- May the LORD now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this.
- Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them."
- Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul's army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.
- He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.
- Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.
|
- The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
- Now Abner the son of Ner, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon with the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul.
- 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.
- Then Abner said to Joab, "Now let the young men arise and hold a contest before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise."
- 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.
|
- The length of time David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
- Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon.
- Joab son of Zeruiah and David's men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side.
- Then Abner said to Joab, "Let's have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us." "All right, let them do it," Joab said.
- So they stood up and were counted off--twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David.
|
- 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 Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
- That day the battle was very severe, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.
- 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.
- Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn to the right or to the left from following Abner.
- Then Abner looked behind him and said, "Is that you, Asahel?" And he answered, "It is I."
|
- Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent's side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.
- The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by David's men.
- The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle.
- He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him.
- Abner looked behind him and asked, "Is that you, Asahel?" "It is," he answered.
|
- 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.
- 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?"
- 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.
- 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.
- The sons of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one band, and they stood on the top of a certain hill.
|
- Then Abner said to him, "Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons." But Asahel would not stop chasing him.
- Again Abner warned Asahel, "Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?"
- But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel's stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.
- But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon.
- Then the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill.
|
- 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?"
- 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."
- So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people halted and pursued Israel no longer, nor did they continue to fight anymore.
- Abner and his men then went through the Arabah all that night; so they crossed the Jordan, walked all morning, and came to Mahanaim.
- Then Joab returned from following Abner; when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen of David's servants besides Asahel were missing.
|
- Abner called out to Joab, "Must the sword devour forever? Don't you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their brothers?"
- Joab answered, "As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued the pursuit of their brothers until morning. "
- So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men came to a halt; they no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore.
- All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, continued through the whole Bithron and came to Mahanaim.
- Then Joab returned from pursuing Abner and assembled all his men. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David's men were found missing.
|
- But the servants of David had struck down many of Benjamin and Abner's men, so that three hundred and sixty men died.
- 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.
|
- But David's men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner.
- They took Asahel and buried him in his father's tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.
|
|
|