2 Samuel 2
A Kingdom Divided at a Pool
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David Anointed King over Judah
2:1After this, David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up into one of Judah’s cities?” The Lord said to him, “Go up.” David said, “Where shall I go up?” He said, “To Hebron.”
2:2David went up there to Hebron, and both his wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail, the wife of Nabal the Carmelite,
2:3and the men with him, each man and his household; and they settled in Hebron’s cities.
2:4Men of Judea came and anointed David there to reign over the house of Judah. They reported to David, “The men of Jabesh in Gilead buried Saul.”
David Blesses the Men of Jabesh
2:5David sent messengers to the leaders of Jabesh in Gilead and said to them, “Blessed are you by the Lord, because you have shown this mercy to your lord, to Saul, the Lord’s anointed, and buried him and Jonathan his son.
2:6Now may the Lord show you mercy and truth. Indeed, I too will do these good things for you, because you have done this thing.
2:7Now let your hands be strong, and become men of valor, for your lord Saul has died. Indeed, the house of Judah has anointed me king over themselves.”
Ish-bosheth Made King over Israel
2:8Abner son of Ner, Saul’s commander in chief, took Ish-bosheth son of Saul and brought him up from the camp to Mahanaim.
2:9He made him king over the land of Gilead, over Thasiri, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
2:10Ish-bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years, except over the house of Judah, who followed David.
2:11The time David reigned in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
The Contest at the Pool of Gibeon
2:12Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
2:13Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s servants went out from Hebron and met them together at Gibeon’s spring. They sat down, one group on this side of Gibeon’s spring and the other on that side of the spring.
2:14Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men rise now and play before us.” Joab said, “Let them rise.”
2:15They rose and passed over by number: twelve of Benjamin’s young men belonging to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve of David’s servants.
2:16Each seized his opponent’s head with his hand and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side, and they fell together. That place was named Portion of the Plotters, which is in Gibeon.
2:17The battle was very severe that day, and Abner and Israel’s men were defeated before David’s servants.
Asahel Pursues Abner
2:18The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was light on his feet, like a gazelle in the field.
2:19Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn to the right or to the left from following Abner.
2:20Abner looked behind him and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” He said, “It is I.”
2:21Abner said to him, “Turn to the right or to the left. Seize one of the young men and take his full armor for yourself.” But Asahel was unwilling to turn aside from following him.
2:22Abner again said to Asahel, “Withdraw from me, lest I strike you to the ground. How could I lift my face to Joab? And where do these things lead? Return to your brother Joab.”
2:23He was unwilling to withdraw. Abner struck him in the loins with the butt of the spear, and the spear passed out through his back. He fell there and died beneath him. Everyone who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died stopped.
2:24Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. The sun was setting when they reached the hill of Amman, facing Gai, on Gibeon’s desert road.
2:25The sons of Benjamin gathered behind Abner and formed one company. They stood on the top of a hill.
Joab Sounds the Trumpet
2:26Abner called to Joab and said, “Will the sword devour forever? Do you not know it will be bitter in the end? How long will you fail to tell the people to turn back from pursuing our brothers?”
2:27Joab said, “As the Lord lives, if you had not spoken, then from early morning the people would have gone up, each after his brother.”
2:28Joab sounded the trumpet, and all the people withdrew. They did not pursue Israel and did not continue fighting.
2:29Abner and his men went westward all that night. They crossed the Jordan, traveled the entire stretch, and came to the camp.
2:30Joab returned from following Abner and gathered all the people. Nineteen men of David’s servants, and Asahel, were counted.
2:31David’s servants struck down three hundred sixty men from the sons of Benjamin, Abner’s men, belonging to him.
2:32They carried Asahel away and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Joab and the men with him traveled all night, and day dawned for them in Hebron.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V2 · working draft awaiting specialist review.