| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1In the course of time, David inquired of the LORD. "Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?" he asked. The LORD said, "Go up." David asked, "Where shall I go?" "To Hebron," the LORD answered. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah. When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5he sent messengers to them to say to them, "The LORD bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6May the LORD now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them." |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul's army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13Joab son of Zeruiah and David's men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14Then Abner said to Joab, "Let's have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us." "All right, let them do it," Joab said. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15So they stood up and were counted off--twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent's side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated by David's men. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20Abner looked behind him and asked, "Is that you, Asahel?" "It is," he answered. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21Then Abner said to him, "Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons." But Asahel would not stop chasing him. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22Again Abner warned Asahel, "Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?" |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel's stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon. |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25Then the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill. |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26Abner called out to Joab, "Must the sword devour forever? Don't you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?" |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27Joab answered, "As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued pursuing them until morning." |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the troops came to a halt; they no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore. |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, continued through the morning hours and came to Mahanaim. |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30Then Joab stopped pursuing Abner and assembled the whole army. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David's men were found missing. |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31But David's men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner. |
| 32[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 32They took Asahel and buried him in his father's tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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