1 T hen 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.”

After this, David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said to him, Go up. David said, To which shall I go up? And He said, To Hebron.

2 S o David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.

So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.

3 A nd David brought up his men who were with him, each with his household; and they lived in the cities of Hebron.

And David brought up his men who were with him, each one with his household, and they dwelt in the towns of Hebron.

4 T hen 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.”

And the men of Judah came and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David, The men of Jabesh-gilead buried Saul.

5 D avid 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.

And David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, saying, May the Lord bless you because you showed kindness and loyalty to Saul your king and buried him.

6 N ow may the Lord show lovingkindness and truth to you; and I also will show this goodness to you, because you have done this thing.

And now may the Lord show loving-kindness and faithfulness to you. I also will do well by you because you have done this.

7 N ow 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.” Ish-bosheth Made King over Israel

So now, let your hands be strengthened and be valiant, for your master Saul is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.

8 B ut Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.

Now Abner son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took Ish-bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.

9 H e made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, even over all Israel.

And he made him king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all Israel.

10 I sh-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.

Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began his two-year reign over Israel. But the house of Judah followed David.

11 T he time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. Civil War

And David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah for seven years and six months.

12 N ow Abner the son of Ner, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon with the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul.

And Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

13 A nd 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.

Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out also; and the two groups met by the pool of Gibeon, seating themselves with one group on either side of the pool.

14 T hen Abner said to Joab, “Now let the young men arise and hold a contest before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.”

And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise and have a contest before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

15 S o they arose and went over by count, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

Then there arose and went over by number—twelve of Benjamin who were with Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

16 E ach 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.

And each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his side; so they all fell together. Therefore that place was called the Field of Sharp Knives, which is at Gibeon.

17 T hat day the battle was very severe, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.

A very fierce battle followed, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.

18 N ow 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.

Three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe or antelope.

19 A sahel pursued Abner and did not turn to the right or to the left from following Abner.

Asahel pursued Abner, and as he ran he turned not to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.

20 T hen Abner looked behind him and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” And he answered, “It is I.”

Then Abner looked behind him and said, Are you Asahel? He answered, I am.

21 S o 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 said to him, Turn aside to your right or left, and seize one of the young men and take his armor. But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.

22 A bner 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?”

And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then should I be able to face Joab your brother?

23 H owever, 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.

Asahel refused to turn aside; so Abner with the rear end of his spear smote him through the abdomen, and he fell and died where he fell. And all who came to the place where Asahel fell and died stood still.

24 B ut 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.

But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner; the sun was going down as they came to the hill of Ammah, before Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.

25 T he sons of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one band, and they stood on the top of a certain hill.

And the Benjamites gathered together behind Abner and became one troop and took their stand on the top of a hill.

26 T hen 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?”

Then Abner called to Joab, Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that bitterness will be the result? How long will it be then before you bid the people to stop pursuing their brethren?

27 J oab 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.”

Joab said, As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely the men would have stopped pursuing their brethren in the morning.

28 S o Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people halted and pursued Israel no longer, nor did they continue to fight anymore.

So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still and pursued Israel no more, nor did they fight any more.

29 A bner and his men then went through the Arabah all that night; so they crossed the Jordan, walked all morning, and came to Mahanaim.

Abner and his men went all night through the Arabah, crossed the Jordan, and went through the whole Bithron and came to Mahanaim.

30 T hen Joab returned from following Abner; when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen of David’s servants besides Asahel were missing.

Joab returned from pursuing Abner, and when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing of David’s servants nineteen men besides Asahel.

31 B ut the servants of David had struck down many of Benjamin and Abner’s men, so that three hundred and sixty men died.

But the servants of David had slain of Benjamin 360 of Abner’s men.

32 A nd 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.

And they took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father at Bethlehem. And Joab and his men walked all night and came to Hebron at daybreak.