2 Samuel
2 Samuel 2 ©
1 By God's direction David goeth up with his company to Hebron, where he is made king over Judah. 5 He commendeth the men of Jabesh-gilead for their kindness to Saul. 8 Abner maketh Ish-bosheth king over Israel. 12 A deadly skirmish between twelve of Abner's men and twelve of Joab's bringeth on a battle, wherein the men of Israel are worsted. 18 Asahel refusing to desist from pursuing Abner is slain by him. 25 At Abner's motion Joab soundeth a retreat. 30 The loss in the action. 32 Asahel's burial.
AND it came to pass after this, that David aenquired 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 bHebron.
And fthe men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That gthe men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.
Therefore know let your hands be strengthened, and 1be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.
And made him king over nGilead, and over the oAshurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
Ish-bosheth 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.
And the 4time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
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 6Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left 9from following Abner.
Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.
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 10armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.
Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him xunder 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.
¶And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.
So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
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.
But the servants of David dhad smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.