2 Samuel 2

After this, David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” The LORD said to him, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” He said, “To Hebron.” So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, who had been the wife of Nabal of Carmel. David also brought up the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns of Hebron. The men of Judah came and anointed David king over the house of Judah there. David was told, “The men of Jabesh-gilead were the ones who buried Saul.” David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, saying, “May you be blessed by the LORD for showing this kindness to your lord Saul by burying him. Now may the LORD show you kindness and faithfulness. I too will do you good because you have done this. So let your hands be strong, and be valiant, for your lord Saul is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.” But Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Ish-bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. He made him king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel. Ish-bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned for two years. But the house of Judah followed David. David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah for seven years and six months. Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s servants went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. They sat down on opposite sides of the pool. Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men get up and compete before us.” Joab said, “Let them get up.” So they got up and crossed over in equal numbers: twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve of David’s servants. Each seized his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side, and they fell together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath-hazzurim. The battle was very fierce that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated before David’s servants. Zeruiah’s three sons were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Asahel was as swift of foot as a gazelle in the open country. Asahel pursued Abner without turning to the right or the left as he followed him. Abner looked behind him and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?” He answered, “It is.” Abner said to him, “Turn to your right or your left, seize one of the young men and take his gear.” But Asahel would not turn aside from pursuing him. Abner again said to Asahel, “Stop pursuing me! Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I then face your brother Joab?” But he refused to turn aside. So Abner struck him in the belly with the butt of his spear, and the spear came out through his back. He fell and died on the spot. Everyone who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died stood still. But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. The sun was setting when they came to the hill of Ammah, facing Giah, on the road to the wilderness of Gibeon. The Benjaminites gathered behind Abner, formed one company and took their stand on top of a hill. Abner called to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not know it will end in bitterness? How long before you tell the people to stop pursuing their brothers?” Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, the people would have withdrawn in the morning, each from pursuing his brother.” Then Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the people stopped. They no longer pursued Israel or continued fighting. Abner and his men walked through the Arabah all that night, crossed the Jordan, went through all Bithron and came to Mahanaim. Joab returned from pursuing Abner and gathered all the people. Nineteen of David’s servants were missing, besides Asahel. But David’s servants had killed three hundred and sixty men from Benjamin and Abner’s forces. They took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem. Joab and his men walked all night, and day broke for them at Hebron.

Rights and attribution