2 Samuel 2 – Bible | Equip God’s People

World English Bible Classic

^[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.

Footnotes

“Helkath Hazzurim” means “field of daggers”.
The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).

King James Version

^[1] And it came to pass after this,H310 that DavidH1732 enquiredH7592(QalImpf) of the Lord,H3068 saying,H559(QalInf) Shall I go upH5927(QalImpf) into anyH259 of the citiesH5892 of Judah?H3063 And the LordH3068 saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, Go up.H5927(QalImpv) And DavidH1732 said,H559(QalImpf) Whither shall I go up?H5927(QalImpf) And he said,H559(QalImpf) Unto Hebron.H2275 ^[2] So DavidH1732 went upH5927(QalImpf) thither, and his twoH8147 wivesH802 also, AhinoamH293 the Jezreelitess,H3159 and AbigailH26 Nabal’sH5037 wifeH802 the Carmelite.H3761 ^[3] And his menH582 that [were] with him did DavidH1732 bring up,H5927(HiphPerf) every manH376 with his household:H1004 and they dweltH3427(QalImpf) in the citiesH5892 of Hebron.H2275 ^[4] And the menH582 of JudahH3063 came,H935(QalImpf) and there they anointedH4886(QalImpf) DavidH1732 kingH4428 over the houseH1004 of Judah.H3063 And they toldH5046(HiphImpf) David,H1732 saying,H559(QalInf) [That] the menH582 of JabeshgileadH3003 [were they] that buriedH6912(QalPerf) Saul.H7586 ^[5] And DavidH1732 sentH7971(QalImpf) messengersH4397 unto the menH582 of Jabeshgilead,H3003 and saidH559(QalImpf) unto them, BlessedH1288(QalPasPtc) [be] ye of the Lord,H3068 that ye have shewedH6213(QalPerf) this kindnessH2617 unto your lord,H113 [even] unto Saul,H7586 and have buriedH6912(QalImpf) him. ^[6] And now the LordH3068 shewH6213(QalImpf) kindnessH2617 and truthH571 unto you: and I also will requiteH6213(QalImpf) you this kindness,H2896 because ye have doneH6213(QalPerf) this thing.H1697 ^[7] Therefore now let your handsH3027 be strengthened,H2388(QalImpf) and be ye valiant:H1121 for your masterH113 SaulH7586 is dead,H4191(QalPerf) and also the houseH1004 of JudahH3063 have anointedH4886(QalPerf) me kingH4428 over them. ^[8] But AbnerH74 the sonH1121 of Ner,H5369 captainH8269 of Saul’sH7586 host,H6635 tookH3947(QalPerf) IshboshethH378 the sonH1121 of Saul,H7586 and brought him overH5674(HiphImpf) to Mahanaim;H4266 ^[9] And made him kingH4427(HiphImpf) 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] IshboshethH378 Saul’sH7586 sonH1121 [was] fortyH705 yearsH8141 oldH1121 when he began to reignH4427(QalInf) over Israel,H3478 and reignedH4427(QalPerf) twoH8147 years.H8141 But the houseH1004 of JudahH3063 followedH310 David.H1732 ^[11] And the timeH4557 that DavidH1732 was kingH4428 in HebronH2275 over the houseH1004 of JudahH3063 was sevenH7651 yearsH8141 and sixH8337 months.H2320 ^[12] And AbnerH74 the sonH1121 of Ner,H5369 and the servantsH5650 of IshboshethH378 the sonH1121 of Saul,H7586 went outH3318(QalImpf) from MahanaimH4266 to Gibeon.H1391 ^[13] And JoabH3097 the sonH1121 of Zeruiah,H6870 and the servantsH5650 of David,H1732 went out,H3318(QalPerf) and metH6298(QalImpf) togetherH3162 by the poolH1295 of Gibeon:H1391 and they sat down,H3427(QalImpf) the one on the one side of the pool,H1295 and the other on the other side of the pool.H1295 ^[14] And AbnerH74 saidH559(QalImpf) to Joab,H3097 Let the young menH5288 now arise,H6965(QalImpf) and playH7832(PielImpf) beforeH6440 us. And JoabH3097 said,H559(QalImpf) Let them arise.H6965(QalImpf) ^[15] Then there aroseH6965(QalImpf) and went overH5674(QalImpf) by numberH4557 twelveH8147 of Benjamin,H1144 which [pertained] to IshboshethH378 the sonH1121 of Saul,H7586 and twelveH8147 of the servantsH5650 of David.H1732 ^[16] And they caughtH2388(HiphImpf) every oneH376 his fellowH7453 by the head,H7218 and [thrust] his swordH2719 in his fellow’sH7453 side;H6654 so they fell downH5307(QalImpf) together:H3162 wherefore that placeH4725 was calledH7121(QalImpf) Helkathhazzurim,H2521 which [is] in Gibeon.H1391 ^[17] And there was a veryH3966 soreH7186 battleH4421 that day;H3117 and AbnerH74 was beaten,H5062(NiphImpf) and the menH582 of Israel,H3478 beforeH6440 the servantsH5650 of David.H1732 ^[18] And there were threeH7969 sonsH1121 of ZeruiahH6870 there, Joab,H3097 and Abishai,H52 and Asahel:H6214 and AsahelH6214 [was as] lightH7031 of footH7272 as aH259 wildH7704 roe.H6643 ^[19] And AsahelH6214 pursuedH7291(QalImpf) afterH310 Abner;H74 and in goingH3212(QalInf) he turnedH5186(QalPerf) not to the right handH3225 nor to the leftH8040 from followingH310 Abner.H74 ^[20] Then AbnerH74 lookedH6437(QalImpf) behindH310 him, and said,H559(QalImpf) [Art] thou Asahel?H6214 And he answered,H559(QalImpf) I [am]. ^[21] And AbnerH74 saidH559(QalImpf) to him, Turn thee asideH5186(QalImpv) to thy right handH3225 or to thy left,H8040 and lay thee holdH270(QalImpv) on oneH259 of the young men,H5288 and takeH3947(QalImpv) thee his armour.H2488 But AsahelH6214 wouldH14(QalPerf) not turn asideH5493(QalInf) from followingH310 of him. ^[22] And AbnerH74 saidH559(QalInf) againH3254(HiphImpf) to Asahel,H6214 Turn thee asideH5493(QalImpv) from followingH310 me: wherefore should I smiteH5221(HiphImpf) thee to the ground?H776 how then should I hold upH5375(QalImpf) my faceH6440 to JoabH3097 thy brother?H251 ^[23] Howbeit he refusedH3985(PielImpf) to turn aside:H5493(QalInf) wherefore AbnerH74 with the hinder endH310 of the spearH2595 smoteH5221(HiphImpf) him underH413 the fifthH2570 [rib], that the spearH2595 came outH3318(QalImpf) behindH310 him; and he fell downH5307(QalImpf) there, and diedH4191(QalImpf) in the same place:H8478 and it came to pass, [that] as many as cameH935(QalActPtc) to the placeH4725 where AsahelH6214 fell downH5307(QalPerf) and diedH4191(QalImpf) stood still.H5975(QalImpf) ^[24] JoabH3097 also and AbishaiH52 pursuedH7291(QalImpf) afterH310 Abner:H74 and the sunH8121 went downH935(QalPerf) when they were comeH935(QalPerf) to the hillH1389 of Ammah,H522 that [lieth] beforeH6440 GiahH1520 by the wayH1870 of the wildernessH4057 of Gibeon.H1391 ^[25] And the childrenH1121 of BenjaminH1144 gathered themselves togetherH6908(HithImpf) afterH310 Abner,H74 and became oneH259 troop,H92 and stoodH5975(QalImpf) on the topH7218 of an hill.H1389 ^[26] Then AbnerH74 calledH7121(QalImpf) to Joab,H3097 and said,H559(QalImpf) Shall the swordH2719 devourH398(QalImpf) for ever?H5331 knowestH3045(QalPerf) thou not that it will be bitternessH4751 in the latter end?H314 how long shall it be then, ere thou bidH559(QalImpf) the peopleH5971 returnH7725(QalInf) from followingH310 their brethren?H251 ^[27] And JoabH3097 said,H559(QalImpf) [As] GodH430 liveth,H2416 unlessH3884 thou hadst spoken,H1696(PielPerf) surely then in the morningH1242 the peopleH5971 had gone upH5927(NiphPerf) every oneH376 from followingH310 his brother.H251 ^[28] So JoabH3097 blewH8628(QalImpf) a trumpet,H7782 and all the peopleH5971 stood still,H5975(QalImpf) and pursuedH7291(QalImpf) afterH310 IsraelH3478 no more, neither foughtH3898(NiphInf) they any more.H3254(QalPerf) ^[29] And AbnerH74 and his menH582 walkedH1980(QalPerf) all that nightH3915 through the plain,H6160 and passed overH5674(QalImpf) Jordan,H3383 and went throughH3212(QalImpf) all Bithron,H1338 and they cameH935(QalImpf) to Mahanaim.H4266 ^[30] And JoabH3097 returnedH7725(QalPerf) from followingH310 Abner:H74 and when he had gatheredH6908 all the peopleH5971 together,H6908(QalImpf) there lackedH6485(NiphImpf) of David’sH1732 servantsH5650 nineteenH8672 menH376 and Asahel.H6214 ^[31] But the servantsH5650 of DavidH1732 had smittenH5221(HiphPerf) of Benjamin,H1144 and of Abner’sH74 men,H582 [so that] threeH7969 hundredH3967 and threescoreH8346 menH376 died.H4191(QalPerf) ^[32] And they took upH5375(QalImpf) Asahel,H6214 and buriedH6912(QalImpf) him in the sepulchreH6913 of his father,H1 which [was in] Bethlehem.H1035 And JoabH3097 and his menH582 wentH3212(QalImpf) all night,H3915 and they came to HebronH2275 at break of day.H215(NiphImpf)

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