2:1 After these things David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” The LORD told him, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go up?” He said, “To Hebron.” 2:2 So David went up, along with his two wives, Ahinaam the Jezrelite and Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 2:3 David also brought along the men who were with him, each with his family. They settled in the cities¹ of Hebron. 2:4 The men of Judah came and there they anointed David as king over the people of Judah.

It was told to David, “The people of Jabesh Gilead are they who buried Saul.” 2:5 So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh Gilead and told them, “You are blessed of the LORD in that you have shown this kindness to your lord Saul by burying him. 2:6 Now may the LORD show you true kindness! I also will do this good for you, because you have done this deed. 2:7 Now be courageous² and show yourselves to be valiant warriors, for your lord Saul is dead. The people of Judah have anointed me as king over you.”

2:8 Now Abner son of Ner, who was in charge of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-bosheth³ son of Saul and had brought him to Mahanaim. 2:9 He appointed him king over Gilead, over the Geshurites,⁴ over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all of Israel. 2:10 Ish-bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he began to rule over Israel. He ruled two years. However, the people of Judah followed David. 2:11 The length of time that David was king in Hebron over the people of Judah came to seven and a half years.

2:12 Then Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 2:13 Joab son of Seruyah and the servants of David also went out and confronted them at the pool of Gibeon. One group established themselves on one side of the pool, and the other group on the other side of the pool. 2:14 Abner said to Joab, “Let the soldiers arise and fight⁵ before us.” Joab said, “So be it.”

2:15 So they arose and crossed over by number: twelve belonging to Benjamin and to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David. 2:16 They seized one another, each with his sword in the side of the other, and they fell dead together. Therefore that place is called the Field of Flints; it is in Gibeon.

2:17 Now the battle was very severe that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were overcome by David’s soldiers.⁶ 2:18 The three sons of Zeruiah were also there—Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Abishai was as light on his feet as one of the gazelles in the field. 2:19 Asahel pursued after Abner, without turning to the right or to the left from behind Abner.

2:20 Then Abner turned and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?” He replied, “Yes, it is!”

2:21 Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right or to your left. Apprehend one of the soldiers⁷ and take his booty for yourself!” But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him.

2:22 So Abner spoke again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me! Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I lift my face in the presence of Joab your brother?”

2:23 But he refused to turn aside. So Abner struck him in the belly with the back end of his⁸ spear. The spear came out his back side, and he collapsed on the spot and died there right before him. Everyone who now comes to the place where Asahel fell dead pauses in respect.⁹

2:24 So Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner. At sunset they came to the hill of Ammah which is near Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. 2:25 Then the Benjamites consolidated their ranks¹⁰ behind Abner and were like a single band, standing at the top of a certain hill.

2:26 Then Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will turn bitter in the end? When will you tell the people to turn aside from pursuing their brethren?”

2:27 Joab replied, “As God lives, if you had not spoken it would have been morning before the people would have abandoned pursuit¹¹ of their brethren!” 2:28 So Joab blew the horn, and all the people stood still and no longer pursued after Israel. Nor did they any longer engage in battle.

2:29 Then Abner and his men advanced through the Arabah all that night. They crossed the Jordan and went through all the Bitron¹² and came to Mahanaim.

2:30 And Joab turned from following after Abner. He gathered all the people and counted as missing nineteen of David’s soldiers, in addition to Asahel. 2:31 But David’s soldiers had slaughtered the Benjamites and Abner’s men—in all 360 men had died! 2:32 Then they took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb which was at Bethlehem. Joab and his men then traveled all that night, and by dawn they had reached Hebron.