2 Samuel 2 ~ 2 Samuel 2

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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 asked the Lord, “Should I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” So David said, “Where should I go?” 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 of Jezreel, and Abigail who had been the wife 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.

David brought up his men who were with him, each one with those of his family. They lived in the cities 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.”

Then the men of Judah came and there they chose David to be king over the family of Judah. They told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who 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.

So David sent men with news to the men of Jabesh-gilead, saying, “May the Lord bring good to you. Because you have shown kindness to your king Saul, and have 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.

Now may the Lord show loving-kindness and truth to you. And I will do good to 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 strong. Have strength of heart. For your king Saul is dead. And those of the family of Judah have chosen me to be their king.” Ish-bosheth Is Made King over Israel

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.

But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, had taken Saul’s son Ish-bosheth to Mahanaim.

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

He made him king of 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.

Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he became king of Israel. He was king for two years. But the family 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

David was king in Hebron over the family of Judah for seven years and six months. War between Israel and Judah

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

Now Abner the son of Ner went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon with the servants of Saul’s son Ish-bosheth.

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.

And Zeruiah’s son Joab and the servants of David went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool, and the other group on the other side.

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.”

Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men get up and have a test of strength in front of us.” And Joab said, “Let them get up.”

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.

So they stood up and went over by number. There were twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the 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.

Each one of them took hold of the head of the one fighting against him, and put his sword into the other’s side. So they fell down together. That is why that place was called field of swords, which is in Gibeon.

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

The battle was very bad that day. Abner and the men of Israel were beaten by 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.

Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel. Asahel was as fast as a wild deer.

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

And Asahel ran after Abner. He did not turn to the right or the left from following him.

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, “Is that you, Asahel?” And he answered, “It is I.”

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.

So Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right or left. Take hold of one of the young men, and take for yourself what belongs to him.” But Asahel was not willing to 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?”

Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I make you fall? How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?”

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.

But he would not turn aside. So Abner hit him in the stomach with the end of his spear, so that the spear came out at his back. He fell there 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 went after Abner. When the sun was going down, they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah by the way of the desert 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.

The sons of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one army. They stood 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?”

Abner called to Joab and said, “Should the sword destroy forever? Do you not know that it will be bad in the end? How long will you keep from telling the people to stop following their brothers?”

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, for sure the people would have stopped going after their brothers 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 sounded the horn, and all the people stopped and went after Israel no longer. And they did not 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. They crossed the Jordan, walked all morning, 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 following Abner, and gathered all the people together. Added to Asahel, nineteen of David’s servants were missing.

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 killed many of Benjamin and Abner’s men, so that 360 men died.

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.

They picked up Asahel and buried him in his father’s grave in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men walked all night and came to Hebron early the next morning.