1And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.
2And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.
3So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite.
4So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite.
5And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
6And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
7And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.
8And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.
9¶ And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.
10¶ And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.
11And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.
12And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.
13Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.2.7 be ye…: Heb. be ye the sons of valour
14Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.2.7 be ye…: Heb. be ye the sons of valour
15¶ But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;2.8 Saul’s host: Heb. the host which was Saul’s2.8 Ish-bosheth: or, Esh-baal
16¶ But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;2.8 Saul’s host: Heb. the host which was Saul’s2.8 Ish-bosheth: or, Esh-baal
17And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
18And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
19Ish-bosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
20Ish-bosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
21And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.2.11 time: Heb. number of days
22And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.2.11 time: Heb. number of days
23¶ And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
24¶ And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
25And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.2.13 together: Heb. them together
26And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.2.13 together: Heb. them together
27And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
28And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
29Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
30Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
31And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.2.16 Helkath-hazzurim: that is, The field of strong men
32And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.2.16 Helkath-hazzurim: that is, The field of strong men
33And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
34And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
35¶ And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.2.18 of foot: Heb. of his feet2.18 as a wild…: Heb. as one of the roes that is in the field
36¶ And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.2.18 of foot: Heb. of his feet2.18 as a wild…: Heb. as one of the roes that is in the field
37And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.2.19 from…: Heb. from after Abner
38And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.2.19 from…: Heb. from after Abner
39Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.
40Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.
41And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.2.21 armour: or, spoil
42And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.2.21 armour: or, spoil
43And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?
44And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?
45Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
46Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
47Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
48Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
49¶ And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.
50¶ And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.
51Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
52Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
53And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.2.27 in the…: Heb. from the morning2.27 gone…: or, gone away
54And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.2.27 in the…: Heb. from the morning2.27 gone…: or, gone away
55So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
56So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
57And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.
58And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.
59And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.
60And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.
61But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.
62But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.
63¶ And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.
64¶ And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.