¹ And it came to pass after this, that David inquired 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.

² So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.

³ And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

⁴ And 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 Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.

⁵ And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have showed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.

⁶ And now the LORD show kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.

⁷ Therefore 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.

⁸ But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

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

¹⁰ Ishbosheth 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.

¹¹ And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

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

¹³ And 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.

¹⁴ And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

¹⁵ Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

¹⁶ And 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 Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

¹⁷ And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

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

¹⁹ And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

²⁰ Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.

²¹ And 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 armor. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.

²² And 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?

²³ Howbeit 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.

²⁴ Joab 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.

²⁵ And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.

²⁶ Then 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?

²⁷ And 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.

²⁸ So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

²⁹ And 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.

³⁰ And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.

³¹ But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.

³² And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

---

¹ And it came to pass after this, ^H310 that David ^H1732 enquired ^H7592 of the LORD, ^H3068 saying, ^H559 Shall I go up ^H5927 into any ^H259 of the cities ^H5892 of Judah? ^H3063 And the LORD ^H3068 said ^H559 unto him, Go up. ^H5927 And David ^H1732 said, ^H559 Whither shall I go up? ^H5927 And he said, ^H559 Unto Hebron. ^H2275

² So David ^H1732 went up ^H5927 thither, and his two ^H8147 wives ^H802 also, Ahinoam ^H293 the Jezreelitess, ^H3159 and Abigail ^H26 Nabal's ^H5037 wife ^H802 the Carmelite. ^H3761

³ And his men ^H582 that were with him did David ^H1732 bring up, ^H5927 every man ^H376 with his household: ^H1004 and they dwelt ^H3427 in the cities ^H5892 of Hebron. ^H2275

⁴ And the men ^H582 of Judah ^H3063 came, ^H935 and there they anointed ^H4886 David ^H1732 king ^H4428 over the house ^H1004 of Judah. ^H3063 And they told ^H5046 David, ^H1732 saying, ^H559 That the men ^H582 of Jabeshgilead ^{H3003 H1568} were they that buried ^H6912 Saul. ^H7586

⁵ And David ^H1732 sent ^H7971 messengers ^H4397 unto the men ^H582 of Jabeshgilead, ^{H3003 H1568} and said ^H559 unto them, Blessed ^H1288 be ye of the LORD, ^H3068 that ye have shewed ^H6213 this kindness ^H2617 unto your lord, ^H113 even unto Saul, ^H7586 and have buried ^H6912 him.

⁶ And now the LORD ^H3068 shew ^H6213 kindness ^H2617 and truth ^H571 unto you: and I also will requite ^H6213 you this kindness, ^H2896 because ye have done ^H6213 this thing. ^H1697

⁷ Therefore now let your hands ^H3027 be strengthened, ^H2388 and be ye valiant: ^{H1121 H2428} for your master ^H113 Saul ^H7586 is dead, ^H4191 and also the house ^H1004 of Judah ^H3063 have anointed ^H4886 me king ^H4428 over them.

⁸ But Abner ^H74 the son ^H1121 of Ner, ^H5369 captain ^H8269 of Saul's ^H7586 host, ^H6635 took ^H3947 Ishbosheth ^H378 the son ^H1121 of Saul, ^H7586 and brought him over ^H5674 to Mahanaim; ^H4266

⁹ And made him king ^H4427 over Gilead, ^H1568 and over the Ashurites, ^H805 and over Jezreel, ^H3157 and over Ephraim, ^H669 and over Benjamin, ^H1144 and over all Israel. ^H3478

¹⁰ Ishbosheth ^H378 Saul's ^H7586 son ^H1121 was forty ^H705 years ^H8141 old ^H1121 when he began to reign ^H4427 over Israel, ^H3478 and reigned ^H4427 two ^H8147 years. ^H8141 But the house ^H1004 of Judah ^H3063 followed ^H310 David. ^H1732

¹¹ And the time ^{H4557 H3117} that David ^H1732 was king ^H4428 in Hebron ^H2275 over the house ^H1004 of Judah ^H3063 was seven ^H7651 years ^H8141 and six ^H8337 months. ^H2320

¹² And Abner ^H74 the son ^H1121 of Ner, ^H5369 and the servants ^H5650 of Ishbosheth ^H378 the son ^H1121 of Saul, ^H7586 went out ^H3318 from Mahanaim ^H4266 to Gibeon. ^H1391

¹³ And Joab ^H3097 the son ^H1121 of Zeruiah, ^H6870 and the servants ^H5650 of David, ^H1732 went out, ^H3318 and met ^H6298 together ^H3162 by the pool ^H1295 of Gibeon: ^H1391 and they sat down, ^H3427 the one on the one side of the pool, ^H1295 and the other on the other side of the pool. ^H1295

¹⁴ And Abner ^H74 said ^H559 to Joab, ^H3097 Let the young men ^H5288 now arise, ^H6965 and play ^H7832 before ^H6440 us. And Joab ^H3097 said, ^H559 Let them arise. ^H6965

¹⁵ Then there arose ^H6965 and went over ^H5674 by number ^H4557 twelve ^{H8147 H6240} of Benjamin, ^H1144 which pertained to Ishbosheth ^H378 the son ^H1121 of Saul, ^H7586 and twelve ^{H8147 H6240} of the servants ^H5650 of David. ^H1732

¹⁶ And they caught ^H2388 every one ^H376 his fellow ^H7453 by the head, ^H7218 and thrust his sword ^H2719 in his fellow's ^H7453 side; ^H6654 so they fell down ^H5307 together: ^H3162 wherefore that place ^H4725 was called ^H7121 Helkathhazzurim, ^H2521 which is in Gibeon. ^H1391

¹⁷ And there was a very ^H3966 sore ^H7186 battle ^H4421 that day; ^H3117 and Abner ^H74 was beaten, ^H5062 and the men ^H582 of Israel, ^H3478 before ^H6440 the servants ^H5650 of David. ^H1732

¹⁸ And there were three ^H7969 sons ^H1121 of Zeruiah ^H6870 there, Joab, ^H3097 and Abishai, ^H52 and Asahel: ^H6214 and Asahel ^H6214 was as light ^H7031 of foot ^H7272 as a ^H259 wild ^H7704 roe. ^H6643

¹⁹ And Asahel ^H6214 pursued ^H7291 after ^H310 Abner; ^H74 and in going ^H3212 he turned ^H5186 not to the right hand ^H3225 nor to the left ^H8040 from following ^H310 Abner. ^H74

²⁰ Then Abner ^H74 looked ^H6437 behind ^H310 him, and said, ^H559 Art thou Asahel? ^H6214 And he answered, ^H559 I am.

²¹ And Abner ^H74 said ^H559 to him, Turn thee aside ^H5186 to thy right hand ^H3225 or to thy left, ^H8040 and lay thee hold ^H270 on one ^H259 of the young men, ^H5288 and take ^H3947 thee his armour. ^H2488 But Asahel ^H6214 would ^H14 not turn aside ^H5493 from following ^H310 of him.

²² And Abner ^H74 said ^H559 again ^H3254 to Asahel, ^H6214 Turn thee aside ^H5493 from following ^H310 me: wherefore should I smite ^H5221 thee to the ground? ^H776 how then should I hold up ^H5375 my face ^H6440 to Joab ^H3097 thy brother? ^H251

²³ Howbeit he refused ^H3985 to turn aside: ^H5493 wherefore Abner ^H74 with the hinder end ^H310 of the spear ^H2595 smote ^H5221 him under ^H413 the fifth ^H2570 rib, that the spear ^H2595 came out ^H3318 behind ^H310 him; and he fell down ^H5307 there, and died ^H4191 in the same place: ^H8478 and it came to pass, that as many as came ^H935 to the place ^H4725 where Asahel ^H6214 fell down ^H5307 and died ^H4191 stood still. ^H5975

²⁴ Joab ^H3097 also and Abishai ^H52 pursued ^H7291 after ^H310 Abner: ^H74 and the sun ^H8121 went down ^H935 when they were come ^H935 to the hill ^H1389 of Ammah, ^H522 that lieth before ^H6440 Giah ^H1520 by the way ^H1870 of the wilderness ^H4057 of Gibeon. ^H1391

²⁵ And the children ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 gathered themselves together ^H6908 after ^H310 Abner, ^H74 and became one ^H259 troop, ^H92 and stood ^H5975 on the top ^H7218 of an hill. ^H1389

²⁶ Then Abner ^H74 called ^H7121 to Joab, ^H3097 and said, ^H559 Shall the sword ^H2719 devour ^H398 for ever? ^H5331 knowest ^H3045 thou not that it will be bitterness ^H4751 in the latter end? ^H314 how long shall it be then, ere thou bid ^H559 the people ^H5971 return ^H7725 from following ^H310 their brethren? ^H251

²⁷ And Joab ^H3097 said, ^H559 As God ^H430 liveth, ^H2416 unless ^H3884 thou hadst spoken, ^H1696 surely then in the morning ^H1242 the people ^H5971 had gone up ^H5927 every one ^H376 from following ^H310 his brother. ^H251

²⁸ So Joab ^H3097 blew ^H8628 a trumpet, ^H7782 and all the people ^H5971 stood still, ^H5975 and pursued ^H7291 after ^H310 Israel ^H3478 no more, neither fought ^H3898 they any more. ^H3254

²⁹ And Abner ^H74 and his men ^H582 walked ^H1980 all that night ^H3915 through the plain, ^H6160 and passed over ^H5674 Jordan, ^H3383 and went through ^H3212 all Bithron, ^H1338 and they came ^H935 to Mahanaim. ^H4266

³⁰ And Joab ^H3097 returned ^H7725 from following ^H310 Abner: ^H74 and when he had gathered ^H6908 all the people ^H5971 together, ^H6908 there lacked ^H6485 of David's ^H1732 servants ^H5650 nineteen ^{H8672 H6240} men ^H376 and Asahel. ^H6214

³¹ But the servants ^H5650 of David ^H1732 had smitten ^H5221 of Benjamin, ^H1144 and of Abner's ^H74 men, ^H582 so that three ^H7969 hundred ^H3967 and threescore ^H8346 men ^H376 died. ^H4191

³² And they took up ^H5375 Asahel, ^H6214 and buried ^H6912 him in the sepulchre ^H6913 of his father, ^H1 which was in Bethlehem. ^H1035 And Joab ^H3097 and his men ^H582 went ^H3212 all night, ^H3915 and they came to Hebron ^H2275 at break of day. ^H215

---

¹ And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And Jehovah said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.

² So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

³ And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

⁴ And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, The men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.

⁵ And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of Jehovah, that ye have showed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.

⁶ And now Jehovah show lovingkindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.

⁷ Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be ye valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.

⁸ Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

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

¹⁰ Ish-bosheth, 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.

¹¹ And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

¹² And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

¹³ And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, 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.

¹⁴ And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men, I pray thee, arise and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

¹⁵ Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin, and for Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

¹⁶ And 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.

¹⁷ And the battle was very sore that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

¹⁸ And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

¹⁹ And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

²⁰ Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Is it thou, Asahel? And he answered, It is I.

²¹ And 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 armor. But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.

²² And 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?

²³ Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him in the body, so 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.

²⁴ But Joab 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.

²⁵ And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill.

²⁶ Then 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?

²⁷ And Joab said, As God liveth, if thou hadst not spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone away, nor followed every one his brother.

²⁸ So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

²⁹ And Abner 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.

³⁰ And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.

³¹ But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, `so that' three hundred and threescore men died.

³² 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 the day brake upon them at Hebron.

---

¹ And it cometh to pass afterwards, that David asketh at Jehovah, saying, `Do I go up into one of the cities of Judah?' and Jehovah saith unto him, `Go up.' And David saith, `Whither do I go up?' and He saith, `To Hebron.'

² And David goeth up thither, and also his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelite;

³ and his men who `are' with him hath David brought up -- a man and his household -- and they dwell in the cities of Hebron.

⁴ And the men of Judah come, and anoint there David for king over the house of Judah; and they declare to David, saying, `The men of Jabesh-Gilead `are' they who buried Saul.'

⁵ And David sendeth messengers unto the men of Jabesh-Gilead, and saith unto them, `Blessed `are' ye of Jehovah, in that ye have done this kindness with your lord, with Saul, that ye bury him.

⁶ `And, now, Jehovah doth with you kindness and truth, and also, I do with you this good because ye have done this thing;

⁷ and now, are your hands strong, and be ye for sons of valour, for your lord Saul. `is' dead, and also -- me have the house of Judah anointed for king over them.'

⁸ And Abner, son of Ner, head of the host which Saul hath, hath taken Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, and causeth him to pass over to Mahanaim,

⁹ and causeth him to reign over Gilead, and over the Ashurite, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over Israel -- all of it.

¹⁰ A son of forty years, `is' Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, in his reigning over Israel, and two years he hath reigned, only the house of Judah have been after David.

¹¹ And the number of the days that David hath been king in Hebron, over the house of Judah, is seven years and six months.

¹² And Abner son of Ner goeth out, and servants of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

¹³ And Joab son of Zeruiah, and servants of David, have gone out, and they meet by the pool of Gibeon together, and sit down, these by the pool on this `side', and these by the pool on that.

¹⁴ And Abner saith unto Joab, `Let the youths rise, I pray thee, and they play before us;' and Joab saith, `Let them rise.'

¹⁵ And they rise and pass over, in number twelve of Benjamin, even of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

¹⁶ And they lay hold, each on the head of his companion, and his sword `is' in the side of his companion, and they fall together, and `one' calleth that place Helkath-Hazzurim, which `is' in Gibeon,

¹⁷ and the battle is very hard on that day, and Abner is smitten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

¹⁸ And there are there three sons of Zeruiah, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel, and Asahel `is' light on his feet, as one of the roes which `are' in the field,

¹⁹ And Asahel pursueth after Abner, and hath not turned aside to go to the right or to the left, from after Abner.

²⁰ And Abner looketh behind him, and saith, `Art thou he -- Asahel?' and he saith, `I `am'.'

²¹ And Abner saith to him, `Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and seize for thee one of the youths, and take to thee his armour;' and Asahel hath not been willing to turn aside from after him.

²² And Abner addeth again, saying unto Asahel, `Turn thee aside from after me, why do I smite thee to the earth? and how do I lift up my face unto Joab thy brother?'

²³ And he refuseth to turn aside, and Abner smiteth him with the hinder part of the spear unto the fifth `rib', and the spear cometh out from behind him, and he falleth there, and dieth under it; and it cometh to pass, every one who hath come unto the place where Asahel hath fallen and dieth -- they stand still.

²⁴ And Joab and Abishai pursue after Abner, and the sun hath gone in, and they have come in unto the height of Ammah, which `is' on the front of Giah, the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

²⁵ And the sons of Benjamin gather themselves together after Abner, and become one troop, and stand on the top of a certain height,

²⁶ and Abner calleth unto Joab, and saith, `For ever doth the sword consume? hast thou not known that it is bitterness in the latter end? and till when dost thou not say to the people to turn back from after their brethren?'

²⁷ And Joab saith, `God liveth! for unless thou hadst spoken, surely then from the morning had the people gone up each from after his brother.'

²⁸ And Joab bloweth with a trumpet, and all the people stand still, and pursue no more after Israel, nor have they added any more to fight.

²⁹ And Abner and his men have gone through the plain all that night, and pass over the Jordan, and go on `through' all Bithron, and come in to Mahanaim.

³⁰ And Joab hath turned back from after Abner, and gathereth all the people, and there are lacking of the servants of David nineteen men, and Asahel;

³¹ and the servants of David have smitten of Benjamin, even among the men of Abner, three hundred and sixty men -- they died.

³² And they lift up Asahel, and bury him in the burying-place of his father, which `is' in Beth-Lehem, and they go all the night -- Joab and his men -- and it is light to them in Hebron.

---

¹ And it came to pass after this that David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up into one of the cities of Judah? And Jehovah said to him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.

² So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jizreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

³ And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household; and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

⁴ And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, It is the men of Jabesh-Gilead that have buried Saul.

⁵ And David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-Gilead, and said to them, Blessed be ye of Jehovah, that ye have shewn this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him!

⁶ And now Jehovah shew kindness and faithfulness to you; and I also will requite you this good, because ye have done this thing.

⁷ And now let your hands be strong, and be ye valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.

⁸ And Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

⁹ and made him king over Gilead, and over the Asshurites, and over Jizreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

¹⁰ Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. However, the house of Judah followed David.

¹¹ And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

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

¹³ And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out. And they met together by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, these on the one side of the pool, and those on the other side of the pool.

¹⁴ And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise and make sport before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

¹⁵ And they arose and went over by number, twelve for Benjamin, and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

¹⁶ And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and [thrust] his sword in his fellow's side, and they fell down together. And that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is by Gibeon.

¹⁷ And the battle that day was very severe; and Abner and the men of Israel were routed before the servants of David.

¹⁸ And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was swift of foot, as one of the gazelles that are in the field.

¹⁹ And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from behind Abner.

²⁰ Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he said, I am.

²¹ And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside, to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay hold of one of the young men, and take for thyself his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.

²² And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: why should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?

²³ But he refused to turn aside; therefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him in the belly, so 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.

²⁴ And Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner; and the sun went down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.

²⁵ And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of a hill.

²⁶ And Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? and how long shall it be ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

²⁷ And 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.

²⁸ And Joab blew the trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither did they fight any more.

²⁹ And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.

³⁰ And Joab returned from following Abner, and gathered all the people together; and there lacked of David's servants nineteen men, and Asahel.

³¹ And the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, three hundred and sixty men, who had died.

³² And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

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¹ It happened after this, that 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.

² So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

³ His men who were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they lived in the cities of Hebron.

⁴ 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 those who buried Saul.

⁵ David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, Blessed be you of Yahweh, that you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him.

⁶ Now Yahweh show loving kindness and truth to you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because you have done this thing.

⁷ Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be you valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.

⁸ Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

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

¹⁰ Ish-bosheth, 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.

¹¹ The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

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

¹³ Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, 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.

¹⁴ Abner said to Joab, Please let the young men arise and play before us. Joab said, Let them arise.

¹⁵ Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin, and for Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

¹⁶ They caught everyone his fellow by the head, and [thrust] his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: therefore that place was called Helkath Hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

¹⁷ The battle was very severe that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

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

¹⁹ Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he didn't turn to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

²⁰ Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Is it you, Asahel? He answered, It is I.

²¹ Abner said to him, Turn you aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay you hold on one of the young men, and take you his armor. But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.

²² Abner said again to Asahel, Turn you aside from following me: why should I strike you to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother?

²³ However he refused to turn aside: therefore Abner with the hinder 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: and it happened, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.

²⁴ But Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

²⁵ The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill.

²⁶ Then 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 shall it be then, before you bid the people return from following their brothers?"

²⁷ Joab said, As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone away, nor followed everyone his brother.

²⁸ So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

²⁹ Abner 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.

³⁰ Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.

³¹ But the servants of David had struck of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, [so that] three hundred sixty men died.

³² They 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.

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¹ Now after this, David, questioning the Lord, said, Am I to go up into any of the towns of Judah? And the Lord said to him, Go up. And David said, Where am I to go? And he said, To Hebron.

² So David went there, taking with him his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail, the wife of Nabal of Carmel.

³ And David took all his men with him, every man with his family: and they were living in the towns round Hebron.

⁴ And the men of Judah came there, and with the holy oil made David king over the people of Judah. And word came to David that it was the men of Jabesh-gilead who put Saul's body in its last resting-place.

⁵ And David sent to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, May the Lord give you his blessing, because you have done this kind act to Saul your lord, and have put his body to rest!

⁶ May the Lord be good and true to you: and I myself will see that your kind act is rewarded, because you have done this thing.

⁷ Then let your hands be strong, and have no fear: though Saul your lord is dead, the people of Judah have made me their king.

⁸ Now Abner, the son of Ner, captain of Saul's army, had taken Saul's son Ish-bosheth over to Mahanaim,

⁹ And made him king over Gilead and the Asherites and over Jezreel and Ephraim and Benjamin, that is, over all Israel.

¹⁰ (Saul's son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he was ruler for two years.) But Judah was on the side of David.

¹¹ And the time when David was king in Hebron over the people of Judah was seven years and six months.

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

¹³ And Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and came face to face with them by the pool of Gibeon; and they took up their position, facing one another on opposite sides of the pool.

¹⁴ And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men give a test of their strength before us. And Joab said, Let them do so.

¹⁵ So they got up and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth and twelve of the servants of David.

¹⁶ And every one got the other by the head, driving his sword into the other's side, so they all went down together: and that place was named the Field of Sides, and it is in Gibeon.

¹⁷ And there was hard fighting that day; and Abner and the men of Israel gave way before the servants of David.

¹⁸ There were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel: and Asahel was as quick-footed as a roe of the fields.

¹⁹ Asahel went running after Abner, not turning to the right or to the left.

²⁰ Then Abner, looking back, said, Is it you, Asahel? And he said, It is I.

²¹ And Abner said, Then go to the right or to the left and put your hands on one of the fighting-men and take his arms. But Asahel would not be turned away from going after Abner.

²² Then again Abner said to Asahel, Go to one side, do not keep on coming after me: why will you make me put an end to you? for then I will be shamed before your brother Joab.

²³ But still he did not go to one side: so Abner gave him a back blow in the stomach with his spear, so that the spear came out at his back; and he went down on the earth, wounded to death: and all those who came to the place where Asahel went down dead, came to a stop.

²⁴ But Joab and Abishai went after Abner: and the sun went down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which is to the east of the road through the waste land of Geba.

²⁵ And the men of Benjamin came together after Abner in one band, and took their places on the top of a hill.

²⁶ Then crying out to Joab, Abner said, Are fighting and destruction to go on for ever? do you not see that the end will only be bitter? how long will it be before you send the people back and make them give up attacking their countrymen?

²⁷ And Joab said, By the living God, if you had not given the word, the people would have gone on attacking their countrymen till the morning.

²⁸ So Joab had a horn sounded, and all the people came to a stop, and gave up going after Israel and fighting them.

²⁹ And all that night Abner and his men went through the Arabah; they went over Jordan and through all Bithron and came to Mahanaim.

³⁰ And Joab came back from fighting Abner: and when he had got all his men together, it was seen that nineteen of David's men, in addition to Asahel, were not with them.

³¹ But David's men had put to death three hundred and sixty of the men of Benjamin and of Abner's men

³² And they took Asahel's body and put it in the last resting-place of his father in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men, travelling all night, came to Hebron at dawn.