1 A fter this, David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” Yahweh said to him, “Go up.” David said, “Where shall I go up?” 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 with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife 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 D avid brought up his men who were with him, every man with his household. 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 he men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were those 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, “Blessed are you by Yahweh, that you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, 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 Yahweh show loving kindness and truth to you. I also will reward you for this kindness, 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 have anointed me king over them.”

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 N ow Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, had taken Ishbosheth 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 a nd he made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

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

10 I shbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah 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.

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

12 A bner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

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

13 J oab the son of Zeruiah and David’s servants went out, and met them 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.

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 A bner said to Joab, “Please let the young men arise and play before us!” 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 T hen they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of David’s servants.

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 T hey each caught his opponent by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: therefore that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.

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 he battle was very severe that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before David’s servants.

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

18 T he three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle.

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 in going he didn’t turn to the right hand 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?” He answered, “It is.”

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

21 A bner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and grab one of the young men, and take his armor.” But Asahel would not 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 said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I look Joab your brother in the face?”

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 with the back end of the spear struck him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place. As many as came to the place where Asahel fell down 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. The sun went down when they had come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before 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 children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top of a 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? Don’t you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long will it be then, before you ask the people to return 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 in the morning the people would have gone away, and not each followed 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 stood still, and pursued Israel no more, and they fought no more.

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 went all that night through the Arabah; and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, 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 J oab returned from following Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen men of David’s and 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 David’s servants had struck Benjamin and of Abner’s men so that three hundred sixty men died.

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

32 T hey took up Asahel, and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was in Bethlehem. Joab and his men went all night, and the day broke on them 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.