2 Samuel 2 read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

2 Samuel 2 (WEBP)

[1] After this, David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” Yahweh said to him, “Go up.” David said, “Where shall I go up?” He said, “To Hebron.”
[2] So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
[3] David brought up his men who were with him, every man with his household. They lived in the cities of Hebron.
[4] The men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were those who buried Saul.”
[5] David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, “Blessed are you by Yahweh, that you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him.
[6] Now may Yahweh show loving kindness and truth to you. I also will reward you for this kindness, because you have done this thing.
[7] Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.”
[8] Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, had taken Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.
[9] He made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
[10] Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
[11] The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
[12] Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
[13] Joab the son of Zeruiah and David’s servants went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.
[14] Abner said to Joab, “Please let the young men arise and compete before us!” Joab said, “Let them arise!”
[15] Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of David’s servants.
[16] They each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.°
[17] The battle was very severe that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before David’s servants.
[18] The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle.
[19] Asahel pursued Abner. He didn’t turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.
[20] Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” He answered, “It is.”
[21] Abner said to him, “Turn away to your right hand or to your left, and grab one of the young men, and take his armor.” But Asahel would not turn away from following him.
[22] Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn away from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I look Joab your brother in the face?”
[23] However, he refused to turn away. Therefore Abner with the back end of the spear struck him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there and died in the same place. As many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
[24] But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. The sun went down when they had come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
[25] The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill.
[26] Then Abner called to Joab, and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Don’t you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long will it be then, before you ask the people to return from following their brothers?”
[27] Joab said, “As God§ lives, if you had not spoken, surely then in the morning the people would have gone away, and not each followed his brother.”
[28] So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still and pursued Israel no more, and they fought no more.
[29] Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah; and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim.
[30] Joab returned from following Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen men of David’s and Asahel were missing.
[31] But David’s servants had struck Benjamin Abner’s men so that three hundred sixty men died.
[32] They took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was in Bethlehem. Joab and his men went all night, and the day broke on them at Hebron.

2 Samuel 2:16 “Helkath Hazzurim” means “field of daggers”.
2 Samuel 2:27 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

2 Samuel 2 (KJVS)

[1] And it came to pass after this H310, that David H1732 enquired H7592 (8799) of the LORD H3068, saying H559 (8800), Shall I go up H5927 (8799) into any H259 of the cities H5892 of Judah H3063? And the LORD H3068 said H559 (8799) unto him, Go up H5927 (8798). And David H1732 said H559 (8799), Whither shall I go up H5927 (8799)? And he said H559 (8799), Unto Hebron H2275.
[2] So David H1732 went up H5927 (8799) thither, and his two H8147 wives H802 also, Ahinoam H293 the Jezreelitess H3159, and Abigail H26 Nabal’s H5037 wife H802 the Carmelite H3761.
[3] And his men H582 that [were] with him did David H1732 bring up H5927 (8689), every man H376 with his household H1004: and they dwelt H3427 (8799) in the cities H5892 of Hebron H2275.
[4] And the men H582 of Judah H3063 came H935 (8799), and there they anointed H4886 (8799) David H1732 king H4428 over the house H1004 of Judah H3063. And they told H5046 (8686) David H1732, saying H559 (8800), [That] the men H582 of Jabeshgilead H3003 H1568 [were they] that buried H6912 (8804) Saul H7586.
[5] And David H1732 sent H7971 (8799) messengers H4397 unto the men H582 of Jabeshgilead H3003 H1568, and said H559 (8799) unto them, Blessed H1288 (8803) [be] ye of the LORD H3068, that ye have shewed H6213 (8804) this kindness H2617 unto your lord H113, [even] unto Saul H7586, and have buried H6912 (8799) him.
[6] And now the LORD H3068 shew H6213 (8799) kindness H2617 and truth H571 unto you: and I also will requite H6213 (8799) you this kindness H2896, because ye have done H6213 (8804) this thing H1697.
[7] Therefore now let your hands H3027 be strengthened H2388 (8799), and be ye valiant H1121 H2428: for your master H113 Saul H7586 is dead H4191 (8804), and also the house H1004 of Judah H3063 have anointed H4886 (8804) me king H4428 over them.
[8] But Abner H74 the son H1121 of Ner H5369, captain H8269 of Saul’s H7586 host H6635, took H3947 (8804) Ishbosheth H378 the son H1121 of Saul H7586, and brought him over H5674 (8686) to Mahanaim H4266;
[9] And made him king H4427 (8686) over Gilead H1568, and over the Ashurites H805, and over Jezreel H3157, and over Ephraim H669, and over Benjamin H1144, and over all Israel H3478.
[10] Ishbosheth H378 Saul’s H7586 son H1121 [was] forty H705 years H8141 old H1121 when he began to reign H4427 (8800) over Israel H3478, and reigned H4427 (8804) two H8147 years H8141. But the house H1004 of Judah H3063 followed H310 David H1732.
[11] And the time H4557 H3117 that David H1732 was king H4428 in Hebron H2275 over the house H1004 of Judah H3063 was seven H7651 years H8141 and six H8337 months H2320.
[12] And Abner H74 the son H1121 of Ner H5369, and the servants H5650 of Ishbosheth H378 the son H1121 of Saul H7586, went out H3318 (8799) from Mahanaim H4266 to Gibeon H1391.
[13] And Joab H3097 the son H1121 of Zeruiah H6870, and the servants H5650 of David H1732, went out H3318 (8804), and met H6298 (8799) together H3162 by the pool H1295 of Gibeon H1391: and they sat down H3427 (8799), the one on the one side of the pool H1295, and the other on the other side of the pool H1295.
[14] And Abner H74 said H559 (8799) to Joab H3097, Let the young men H5288 now arise H6965 (8799), and play H7832 (8762) before H6440 us. And Joab H3097 said H559 (8799), Let them arise H6965 (8799).
[15] Then there arose H6965 (8799) and went over H5674 (8799) by number H4557 twelve H8147 H6240 of Benjamin H1144, which [pertained] to Ishbosheth H378 the son H1121 of Saul H7586, and twelve H8147 H6240 of the servants H5650 of David H1732.
[16] And they caught H2388 (8686) every one H376 his fellow H7453 by the head H7218, and [thrust] his sword H2719 in his fellow’s H7453 side H6654; so they fell down H5307 (8799) together H3162: wherefore that place H4725 was called H7121 (8799) Helkathhazzurim H2521, which [is] in Gibeon H1391.
[17] And there was a very H3966 sore H7186 battle H4421 that day H3117; and Abner H74 was beaten H5062 (8735), and the men H582 of Israel H3478, before H6440 the servants H5650 of David H1732.
[18] And there were three H7969 sons H1121 of Zeruiah H6870 there, Joab H3097, and Abishai H52, and Asahel H6214: and Asahel H6214 [was as] light H7031 of foot H7272 as a H259 wild H7704 roe H6643.
[19] And Asahel H6214 pursued H7291 (8799) after H310 Abner H74; and in going H3212 (8800) he turned H5186 (8804) not to the right hand H3225 nor to the left H8040 from following H310 Abner H74.
[20] Then Abner H74 looked H6437 (8799) behind H310 him, and said H559 (8799), [Art] thou Asahel H6214? And he answered H559 (8799), I [am].
[21] And Abner H74 said H559 (8799) to him, Turn thee aside H5186 (8798) to thy right hand H3225 or to thy left H8040, and lay thee hold H270 (8798) on one H259 of the young men H5288, and take H3947 (8798) thee his armour H2488. But Asahel H6214 would H14 (8804) not turn aside H5493 (8800) from following H310 of him.
[22] And Abner H74 said H559 (8800) again H3254 (8686) to Asahel H6214, Turn thee aside H5493 (8798) from following H310 me: wherefore should I smite H5221 (8686) thee to the ground H776? how then should I hold up H5375 (8799) my face H6440 to Joab H3097 thy brother H251?
[23] Howbeit he refused H3985 (8762) to turn aside H5493 (8800): wherefore Abner H74 with the hinder end H310 of the spear H2595 smote H5221 (8686) him under H413 the fifth H2570 [rib], that the spear H2595 came out H3318 (8799) behind H310 him; and he fell down H5307 (8799) there, and died H4191 (8799) in the same place H8478: and it came to pass, [that] as many as came H935 (8802) to the place H4725 where Asahel H6214 fell down H5307 (8804) and died H4191 (8799) stood still H5975 (8799).
[24] Joab H3097 also and Abishai H52 pursued H7291 (8799) after H310 Abner H74: and the sun H8121 went down H935 (8804) when they were come H935 (8804) to the hill H1389 of Ammah H522, that [lieth] before H6440 Giah H1520 by the way H1870 of the wilderness H4057 of Gibeon H1391.
[25] And the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 gathered themselves together H6908 (8691) after H310 Abner H74, and became one H259 troop H92, and stood H5975 (8799) on the top H7218 of an hill H1389.
[26] Then Abner H74 called H7121 (8799) to Joab H3097, and said H559 (8799), Shall the sword H2719 devour H398 (8799) for ever H5331? knowest H3045 (8804) thou not that it will be bitterness H4751 in the latter end H314? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid H559 (8799) the people H5971 return H7725 (8800) from following H310 their brethren H251?
[27] And Joab H3097 said H559 (8799), [As] God H430 liveth H2416, unless H3884 thou hadst spoken H1696 (8765), surely then in the morning H1242 the people H5971 had gone up H5927 (8738) every one H376 from following H310 his brother H251.
[28] So Joab H3097 blew H8628 (8799) a trumpet H7782, and all the people H5971 stood still H5975 (8799), and pursued H7291 (8799) after H310 Israel H3478 no more, neither fought H3898 (8736) they any more H3254 (8804).
[29] And Abner H74 and his men H582 walked H1980 (8804) all that night H3915 through the plain H6160, and passed over H5674 (8799) Jordan H3383, and went through H3212 (8799) all Bithron H1338, and they came H935 (8799) to Mahanaim H4266.
[30] And Joab H3097 returned H7725 (8804) from following H310 Abner H74: and when he had gathered H6908 all the people H5971 together H6908 (8799), there lacked H6485 (8735) of David’s H1732 servants H5650 nineteen H8672 H6240 men H376 and Asahel H6214.
[31] But the servants H5650 of David H1732 had smitten H5221 (8689) of Benjamin H1144, and of Abner’s H74 men H582, [so that] three H7969 hundred H3967 and threescore H8346 men H376 died H4191 (8804).
[32] And they took up H5375 (8799) Asahel H6214, and buried H6912 (8799) him in the sepulchre H6913 of his father H1, which [was in] Bethlehem H1035. And Joab H3097 and his men H582 went H3212 (8799) all night H3915, and they came to Hebron H2275 at break of day H215 (8735).

Young’s Literal Translation

2 Samuel 2 (YLT)

[1] And it cometh to pass afterwards, that David asketh at Jehovah, saying, ‘Do I go up into one of the cities of Judah?’ and Jehovah saith unto him, ‘Go up.’ And David saith, ‘Whither do I go up?’ and He saith, ‘To Hebron.’
[2] And David goeth up thither, and also his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelite;
[3] and his men who are with him hath David brought up-a man and his household-and they dwell in the cities of Hebron.
[4] And the men of Judah come, and anoint there David for king over the house of Judah; and they declare to David, saying, ‘The men of Jabesh-Gilead are they who buried Saul.’
[5] And David sendeth messengers unto the men of Jabesh-Gilead, and saith unto them, ‘Blessed are ye of Jehovah, in that ye have done this kindness with your lord, with Saul, that ye bury him.
[6] ‘And, now, Jehovah doth with you kindness and truth, and also, I do with you this good because ye have done this thing;
[7] and now, are your hands strong, and be ye for sons of valour, for your lord Saul. is dead, and also-me have the house of Judah anointed for king over them.’
[8] And Abner, son of Ner, head of the host which Saul hath, hath taken Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, and causeth him to pass over to Mahanaim,
[9] and causeth him to reign over Gilead, and over the Ashurite, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over Israel-all of it.
[10] A son of forty years, is Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, in his reigning over Israel, and two years he hath reigned, only the house of Judah have been after David.
[11] And the number of the days that David hath been king in Hebron, over the house of Judah, is seven years and six months.
[12] And Abner son of Ner goeth out, and servants of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
[13] And Joab son of Zeruiah, and servants of David, have gone out, and they meet by the pool of Gibeon together, and sit down, these by the pool on this side, and these by the pool on that.
[14] And Abner saith unto Joab, ‘Let the youths rise, I pray thee, and they play before us;’ and Joab saith, ‘Let them rise.’
[15] And they rise and pass over, in number twelve of Benjamin, even of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
[16] And they lay hold, each on the head of his companion, and his sword is in the side of his companion, and they fall together, and one calleth that place Helkath-Hazzurim, which is in Gibeon,
[17] and the battle is very hard on that day, and Abner is smitten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
[18] And there are there three sons of Zeruiah, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel, and Asahel is light on his feet, as one of the roes which are in the field,
[19] And Asahel pursueth after Abner, and hath not turned aside to go to the right or to the left, from after Abner.
[20] And Abner looketh behind him, and saith, ‘Art thou he-Asahel?’ and he saith, ‘I am.’
[21] And Abner saith to him, ‘Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and seize for thee one of the youths, and take to thee his armour;’ and Asahel hath not been willing to turn aside from after him.
[22] And Abner addeth again, saying unto Asahel, ‘Turn thee aside from after me, why do I smite thee to the earth? and how do I lift up my face unto Joab thy brother?’
[23] And he refuseth to turn aside, and Abner smiteth him with the hinder part of the spear unto the fifth rib, and the spear cometh out from behind him, and he falleth there, and dieth under it; and it cometh to pass, every one who hath come unto the place where Asahel hath fallen and dieth-they stand still.
[24] And Joab and Abishai pursue after Abner, and the sun hath gone in, and they have come in unto the height of Ammah, which is on the front of Giah, the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
[25] And the sons of Benjamin gather themselves together after Abner, and become one troop, and stand on the top of a certain height,
[26] and Abner calleth unto Joab, and saith, ‘For ever doth the sword consume? hast thou not known that it is bitterness in the latter end? and till when dost thou not say to the people to turn back from after their brethren?’
[27] And Joab saith, ‘God liveth! for unless thou hadst spoken, surely then from the morning had the people gone up each from after his brother.’
[28] And Joab bloweth with a trumpet, and all the people stand still, and pursue no more after Israel, nor have they added any more to fight.
[29] And Abner and his men have gone through the plain all that night, and pass over the Jordan, and go on through all Bithron, and come in to Mahanaim.
[30] And Joab hath turned back from after Abner, and gathereth all the people, and there are lacking of the servants of David nineteen men, and Asahel;
[31] and the servants of David have smitten of Benjamin, even among the men of Abner, three hundred and sixty men-they died.
[32] And they lift up Asahel, and bury him in the burying-place of his father, which is in Beth-Lehem, and they go all the night-Joab and his men-and it is light to them in Hebron.