2 Samuel 2

David Is Anointed King over Judah

1After this David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Will I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” The LORD said to him, “Go up.” David said, “Where will I go up?” He said, “To Hebron.” 2So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail, the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 3David also brought up the men who were with him, each with his household, and they lived in the cities of Hebron. 4Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.

They told David, saying, “The men of Jabesh-Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.” 5So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-Gilead and said to them, “Blessed are you by the LORD because you showed this steadfast love to your lord Saul and buried him. 6And now may the LORD show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. I also will do good to you because you have done this thing. 7And now let your hands be strong and be courageous, for Saul your lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

Ish-Bosheth Is Made King over Israel

8Yet Abner son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him across to Mahanaim. 9He made him king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all Israel. 10Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. Only the house of Judah followed David. 11The number of days that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

The Servants of David and Saul Meet at Gibeon

12Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. They sat down, these on one side of the pool and those on the other side of the pool. 14Abner said to Joab, “Please let the young men arise and play before us.” Joab said, “Let them arise.” 15So they arose and crossed over by number: twelve for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David. 16Each seized his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side, so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-Hazzurim, which is at Gibeon.

A Fierce Battle Follows

17The battle was very fierce that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were struck before the servants of David. 18The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was swift on his feet like one of the gazelles that are in the field. 19Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn to the right or to the left from following Abner. 20Abner turned behind him and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” He said, “It is I.” 21Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right or to your left, seize one of the young men, and take his spoil for yourself.” But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him. 22Abner again said to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I lift my face to Joab your brother?” 23But he refused to turn aside. So Abner struck him in the belly with the butt end of the spear, and the spear came out behind him. He fell there and died on the spot. And everyone who came to the place where Asahel fell and died stood still.

Abner Calls for an End to the Pursuit

24Yet Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. The sun was going down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah, on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. 25The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together behind Abner and became one group, and they stood on the top of a hill. 26Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Will the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long before you tell the people to turn back from pursuing their brothers?” 27Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, then surely only by morning would the people have gone up, each from pursuing his brother.” 28So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the people stopped. They pursued Israel no more, and they fought no more.

The Two Forces Return Home

29Abner and his men walked through the Arabah all that night. They crossed the Jordan, walked through all the Bithron, and came to Mahanaim. 30Joab returned from pursuing Abner and gathered all the people. From the servants of David, nineteen men were missing, besides Asahel. 31But the servants of David had struck down from Benjamin and the men of Abner three hundred sixty men who died. 32They lifted up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb, which was in Bethlehem. Joab and his men walked all night, and the day dawned upon them at Hebron.