2 Samuel Chapter 2
David Anointed King of Judah
1 Afterward David asked Yahveh, “Should I go up to one of the towns in Judah?”
“Go on up.”
Where?”
“To Hebron.”
2 David and his two wives went there. 3 He brought his men up with their families, and they lived in towns around Hebron. 4 Then the people in Judah came and anointed him king over Judah.
They told him, “The men in Jabesh-gilead have buried Saul.”
5 David sent them messengers,
“Yahveh bless you; you’ve been kind to Saul your lord and buried him. 6 May Yahveh show you enduring love and truth. I’ll also show you goodness for doing that. 7 Be strong and brave. Your lord is dead, and Judah has anointed me king.”
2 Sam 2:1-7
War Between Israel and Judah
8 But Abner, commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, to Mahanaim 9 and made him king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin—all Israel. 10 Ish-bosheth was 40 and ruled for 2 years, but Judah followed David. 11 For 7½ years he ruled Judah from Hebron.
12 Abner went from Mahanaim to Gibeon with the troops of Ish-bosheth. 13 Joab Ben Zeruiah and David’s troops went to meet them by the pool of Gibeon. They sat on opposite sides of the pool. 14 Abner told Joab, “Let’s have the young men have a contest.”
Joab said, “Let them get up.”
15 They got up and went over by count, 12 for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth and 12 for David’s troops. 16 Each one grabbed his opponent by the hair and thrust his sword in the other’s side, so they fell down together. So the place was called Helkath-hazzurim, in Gibeon. 17 That day the battle became intense. David’s forces beat Abner and the men of Israel.
2 Sam 2:8-17
18 Zeruiah’s three sons were: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as fast as a gazelle in the field. 19 He kept chasing Abner and wouldn’t turn aside.
20 Abner glanced back, “Is that you, Asahel?”
“Yes.”
21 “Turn aside and grab one of the young men and take his spoil.”
But Asahel wouldn’t do it.
22 Abner repeated, “Turn aside. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I face your brother Joab?”
23 But he wouldn’t do it. So Abner jabbed him in the stomach with the butt of the spear, and it came out of his back. He fell there and died. Everybody that came to where he died stood still.
2 Sam 1:18-23
24 But Joab and Abishai kept chasing Abner. As the sun was going down, they came to the hill of Ammah by Gath by way of the Wilderness of Gibeon. 25 The Benjamites gathered behind Abner, became one band, and stood on a hilltop.
26 He called to Joab,
“Will the sword devour forever? Don’t you know it will be bitter in the end? How long will you hold back from telling the people to quit chasing their brothers?
27 Joab said,
“As God lives, if you hadn’t said something, the people would have gone away in the morning, each from following his brother.”
28 Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the people quit chasing Israel and fighting. 29 Abner and his men went through the Arabah all night, crossed the Jordan, and walked all morning to Mahanaim.”
30 Joab came back from chasing Abner. When he’d gathered the people, 19 of David’s troops besides Asahel were missing. 31 But David’s troops had struck down 360 of Benjamin and Abner’s men. 32 They picked up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men traveled all night till dawn in Hebron.
2 Sam 2:24-32