2 Samuel 2
2:1And it came to pass after these things, and David asked by the lord, saying, Shall I ascend unto one of the cities of Judah? And the lord said to him, Ascend! And David said, Where should I ascend? And he said, Unto Hebron.
2:2And David ascended there, and both his wives -- Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
2:3And the men were with him, each one and his house. And they dwelt among the cities of Hebron.
2:4And the men of Judea come and anoint David there to reign over the house of Judah. And they reported to David, saying, The men of Jabish of the Gileadites entombed Saul.
2:5And David sent messengers to the leaders of Jabish of the Gileadites, And he said to them, Being blessed are you to the lord, that you performed this mercy for your master, for Saul, and you entombed him.
2:6And now, may the lord perform mercy and truth with you; and indeed I will do with you this good that you did in this matter.
2:7And now strengthen your hands and become as mighty sons! for Saul your master has died, and indeed the house of Judah has anointed me over them for king.
2:8And Abner son of Ner, commander-in-chief of Saul, took Ishbosheth son of Saul, and brought him from out of the camp into Mahanaim,
2:9and gave him to reign over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
2:10Ishbosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he reigned over Israel; and he reigned two years; except for the house of Judah, the ones which were following after David.
2:11And became the number of the days which David reigned in Hebron over the house of Judah -- seven years and six months.
2:12And Abner son of Ner came forth, and the servants of Ishbosheth son of Saul, out of Mahanaim unto Gibeon.
2:13And Joab son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, came forth out of Hebron, and met them at the fountain of Gibeon. And these sat here on this side, and these others at the fountain here on that side.
2:14And Abner said to Joab, Raise up indeed the servant-lads and let them play before us! And Joab said, Let them arise!
2:15And they rose up and went by in number -- twelve of the servants of Benjamin of Ishbosheth son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
2:16And they each held by their hand the head of his neighbor; and his knife was thrust into the side of his neighbor; and they fell down together. And they called that place, Portion of the Plotters, which is in Gibeon.
2:17And the battle was hard so as to an exceeding degree in that day. And Abner and the men of Israel failed before the servants of David.
2:18And there were there three sons of Zeruiah -- Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was light of his feet, as one doe of the ones in the field.
2:19And Asahel pursued after Abner, and he did not turn aside to go to the right nor to the left after Abner.
2:20And Abner looked to his rear, and said, Are you Asahel himself? And he said, I am.
2:21And Abner said to him, Turn aside to the right or to the left, and constrain to yourself one of the servant-lads, and take to yourself his full armor! And Asahel did not want to turn aside from being behind him.
2:22And Abner added yet, saying to Asahel, Leave from me! that I should not strike you unto the ground. For how shall I lift my face to Joab your brother?
2:23And he was not willing to leave. And Abner struck him with the rear of the spear upon his flank. And the spear went completely through out behind him. And he falls there and dies underneath him. And it came to pass every one coming unto the place where Asahel fell there and died, even stood still.
2:24And Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner, and the sun went down. And they entered unto the hill of Ammah, according to the face of Giah, the wilderness way of Gibeon.
2:25And the sons of Benjamin gathered together, the ones following after Abner, and they came to meet as one, and they stood upon the head of one hill.
2:26And Abner called Joab, and he said, Shall the broadsword devour in victory, or do you not know that it will be bitter at the last? And for how long shall you in no way speak to the people to return from following after their brethren?
2:27And Joab said, As the lord lives, that if you had not spoken, because then from the morning the people ascended even each after his brother.
2:28And Joab trumped the trumpet, and all the people left, and did not pursue any longer after Israel, and they did not proceed any longer to wage war.
2:29And Abner and his men went forth at the descent of the sun, and went all that night, and passed over the Jordan, and they went the entire extent, and they came unto Camp.
2:30And Joab returned from following behind Abner, And he gathered together all the people. And they numbered the servants of David, the ones having fallen -- nineteen men and Asahel.
2:31And the servants of David struck of the sons of Benjamin, of the men of Abner -- three hundred and sixty men.
2:32And they lifted up Asahel, and they entombed him in the burying-place of his father in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went the entire night, and light shined through to them in Hebron.