David Becomes King over Judah

1Some time later, David inquired of the LORD to ask, “Am I to movea to any one of the cities of Judah?”

The LORD told him, “Go.”

So David asked, “To which one?”

He replied, “To Hebron.”

2So David went there, along with his two wives Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, widow of Nabal from Carmel. 3David brought his armyb with him, each soldier accompanied by his household, and they settled in the cities of Hebron. 4After this, the army of Judah arrived, and they anointed David king over the house of Judah.

There they informed David, “The men of Jabesh-gilead buried Saul.”

5So David sent messengers to the peoplec of Jabesh-gilead and told them, “May the LORD bless you, because you showed gracious love liked this to your lord Saul by burying him. 6Now may the Lord reward you with gracious love, as well as faithfulness, to you, too! And I will also reward you because you did this good thing. 7So strengthen yourselves, and be valiant in heart, because your lord Saul has died, and the household of Judah has anointed me to be king over them.”

Abner’s Rebellion and the Battle at Gibeon

8Meanwhile, Ner’s son Abner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Saul’s son Ish-boshethe and brought him to Mahanaim. 9He installed him as king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all of the rest off Israel. 10Ish-bosheth began to reign over Israel at the age of 40 years, and he reigned for two years, even though Judah’s lineage followed David. 11The period of David’s kingship in Hebron lasted seven years and six months.

12 Ner’s son Abner and the servants of Saul’s son Ish-bosheth set out from Mahanaim for Gibeon. 13Zeruiah’s son Joab and some of David’s staff went out to meet them at the pool of Gibeon. One side encamped on one side of the pool while the other encamped on the other side of the pool.

14Abner told Joab, “Let’s have the young men get up and fight in our presence.”

Joab replied, “Let them come.”

15So they got up and twelve were counted to represent Benjamin and Saul’s son Ish-bosheth and twelve to represent members of David’s staff. 16Each man grabbed his opponent by the head, plungedg his sword into his opponent’s side, and then they both fell together. That’s why the place at Gibeon was named The Field of Swords.h 17The battle was very violent that day, with Abner and the men of Israel being defeated in the presence of David’s servants.

Abner Kills Joab’s Brother Asahel

18Zeruiah’s three sons Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were there. As a runner, Asahel was fast, like one of the wild gazelles. 19So Asahel ran straighti after Abner, following him. 20When Abner looked behind him, he said, “Is that you, Asahel?”

He answered, “I am.”

21Abner told him, “Go off to your right or left after one of the young men and grab some war spoils.” But Asahel would not stop following him, 22so Abner told Asahel again, “Stop following me. Why should I strike you down? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?”

23But Asahelj refused to turn away, so Abner struck Asahel in the abdomen with the butt end of his spear, and the spear protruded through his back. He collapsed to the ground and died where he fell. Everyone gathered round the place where Asahel had collapsed and died, and stood still there.

24Meanwhile, Joab and Abishai continued to chase Abner. At dusk, as they approached the hill of Ammah that is located near Giah on the way to the Gibeon desert, 25the descendants of Benjamin rallied around Abner, forming a single military force. They took their stand on top of the hill.

26Then Abner called out to Joab, “Must the battle sword keep on devouring forever? Don’t you realize that the end result is bitterness? How long will it take for you to order your armyk to stop pursuing their own relatives?”

27Joab answered, “As God lives, if you hadn’t spoken up, by morning my army would have broken off their pursuit of their own relatives.” 28So Joab sounded his battle trumpet, his entire army stopped pursuing Israel any longer, and they quit fighting.

29Abner and his army traveled through the Arabah by night, crossed the Jordan, and arrived at Mahanaim after marching all morning. 30Joab returned from his pursuit of Abner, and when he had mustered his entire army, nineteen of David’s soldiersl were missing besides Asahel. 31Meanwhile, otherm soldiers of David had killed 360 of Abner’s men from the tribe ofn Benjamin. 32They retrieved Asahel’s body and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night until daybreak and arrived back in Hebron.