1 AND it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.
2 So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite.
3 And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.
5 And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the Lord, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.
6 And now the Lord shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.
7 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.
8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;
9 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
10 Ish-bosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together 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 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
16 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
17 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
18 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
19 And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.
21 And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.
22 And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?
23 Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
24 Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
25 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.
26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
27 And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.
28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.
30 And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.
31 But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.
32 And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

1And it came to passe after this, that Dauid enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I goe vp into any of the Cities of Iudah? And the Lord said vnto him, Goe vp. And Dauid said, Whither shall I goe vp? And he said, Unto Hebron.

2So Dauid went vp thither, and his two wiues also, Ahinoam the Iezreelitesse, and Abigail Nabals wife the Carmelite.

3And his men that were with him, did Dauid bring vp, euery man with his houshold: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

4And the men of Iudah came, and there they anointed Dauid king ouer the house of Iudah: and they tolde Dauid, saying; That the men of Iabesh Gilead were they that buried Saul.

5 And Dauid sent messengers vnto the men of Iabesh Gilead, and said vnto them, Blessed be ye of the Lord, that ye haue shewed this kindnesse vnto your lord, euen vnto Saul, and haue buried him.

6And now the Lord shewe kindnesse and trueth vnto you: and I also will requite you this kindnesse, because ye haue done this thing.

7Therefore now let your handes be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Iudah haue anointed me king ouer them.

8 But Abner the sonne of Ner, captaine of Sauls hoste, tooke Ishbosheth the sonne of Saul, and brought him ouer to Mahanaim.

9And hee made him king ouer Gilead, and ouer the Ashurites, and ouer Iezreel, and ouer Ephraim, and ouer Beniamin, and ouer all Israel.

10Ishbosheth Sauls sonne was fortie yeeres olde when he began to reigne ouer Israel, and reigned two yeres: but the house of Iudah followed Dauid.

11(And the time that Dauid was King in Hebron ouer the house of Iudah, was seuen yeeres, and sixe moneths)

12 And Abner the sonne of Ner, and the seruants of Ishbosheth the sonne of Saul, went out from Mahanaim, to Gibeon.

13And Ioab the sonne of Zeruiah, and the seruants of Dauid went out, and met together by the poole of Gibeon: and they sate downe, the one on the one side of the poole, and the other on the other side of the poole.

14And Abner said to Ioab, Let the yong men now arise, and play before vs: and Ioab saide, Let them arise.

15Then there arose and went ouer by number twelue of Beniamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the sonne of Saul, and twelue of the seruants of Dauid.

16And they caught euery one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellowes side, so they fell downe together: Wherfore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

17And there was a very sore battell that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the seruants of Dauid.

18 And there were three sonnes of Zeruiah there, Ioab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wilde Roe.

19And Asahel pursued after Abner, and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

20Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.

21And Abner said to him, Turne thee aside to thy right hand, or to thy left, and lay thee holde on one of the yong men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turne aside from following of him.

22And Abner said againe to Asahel, Turne thee aside from following me: Wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I holde vp my face to Ioab thy brother?

23Howbeit he refused to turne aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder ende of the speare smote him vnder the fift ribbe, that the speare came out behinde him, and hee fell downe there, and died in the same place: and it came to passe, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell downe and died, stood still.

24Ioab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the Sunne went downe when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wildernesse of Gibeon.

25 And the children of Beniamin gathered themselues together after Abner, and became one troupe, and stood on the top of an hill.

26Then Abner called to Ioab, and said, Shall the sword deuoure for euer? Knowest thou not that it wil be bitternesse in the latter end? How long shall it bee then, yer thou bid the people returne from following their brethren?

27And Ioab said, As God liueth, vnlesse thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone vp euery one from following his brother.

28So Ioab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

29And Abner and his men walked all that night thorow the plaine, and passed ouer Iordane, and went thorow all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.

30And Ioab returned from folowing Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of Dauids seruants nineteene men, and Asahel.

31But the seruants of Dauid had smitten of Beniamin and of Abners men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.

32 And they tooke vp Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father which was in Bethlehem: and Ioab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at breake of day.

I == Judg 1:1 ; 1st Sam 23:2 , 4 , 9 ; 30:7-8 , 31 ; 2nd Sam 2:11 ; 5:1 , 3 ; 1st Kings 2:11

II == 1st Sam 30:5

 

 

III == 1st Sam 31: 11 , 13 ; 2nd Sam 2:11 ; 5:5

 

 

 

 

V == Ruth 2:20 ; 3:10 ; Ps 115:15

 

 

 

VI == 2nd Tim 1:16 , 18

 

 

 

 

VIII == 1st Sam 14:50 ; 1st Chr 8:33 ; 9:39

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XI == 2nd Sam 5:5 ; 1st Kings 2:11

XII == Josh 18:25

 

XIII == Jer 41:12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XVIII == 1st Chr 2:16 ; 12:8 ; Ps 18:33 ; Song 2:17 ; 8:14

 

 

 

 

XXI == Judg 14:19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXIII 2nd Sam 3:27 ; 4:6 ; 20:10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXVII == 2nd Sam 2:14 ; Prov 17:14

 

 

1 After this David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I go up into one of the cities of Judah?" The LORD replied to him, "Yes." Then David asked, "Where shall I go?" He replied, "To Hebron."

2 So David went up there accompanied by his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.

3 David also brought up his men with their families, and they dwelt in the cities near Hebron.

4 Then the men of Judah came there and anointed David king of the Judahites.A report reached David that the men of Jabesh-gilead had buried Saul.

5 So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them: "May you be blessed by the LORD for having done this kindness to your lord Saul in burying him.

6 And now may the LORD be kind and faithful to you. I, too, will be generous to you for having done this.

7 Take courage, therefore, and prove yourselves valiant men, for though your lord Saul is dead, the Judahites have anointed me their king."

8 Abner, son of Ner, Saul's general, took Ishbaal, son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim,

9 where he made him king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and the rest of Israel.

10 Ishbaal, son of Saul, was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned for two years. The Judahites alone followed David.

11 In all, David spent seven years and six months in Hebron as king of the Judahites.

12 Now Abner, son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbaal, Saul's son, left Mahanaim for Gibeon.

13 Joab, son of Zeruiah, and David's servants also set out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. And they sat down, one group on one side of the pool and the other on the opposite side.

14 Then Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men rise and perform for us." Joab replied, "All right!"

15 So they rose and were counted off: twelve of the Benjaminites of Ishbaal, son of Saul, and twelve of David's servants.

16 Then each one grasped his opponent's head and thrust his sword into his opponent's side, and all fell down together. And so that place, which is in Gideon, was named the Field of the Sides.

17 After a very fierce battle that day, Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by David's servants.

18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there-Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel, who was as fleet of foot as a gazelle in the open field,

19 set out after Abner, turning neither right nor left in his pursuit.

20 Abner turned around and said, "Is that you, Asahel?" He replied, "Yes."

21 Abner said to him, "Turn right or left; seize one of the young men and take what you can strip from him." But Asahel would not desist from his pursuit.

22 Once more Abner said to Asahel: "Stop pursuing me! Why must I strike you to the ground? How could I face your brother Joab?"

23 Still he refused to stop. So Abner struck him in the abdomen with the heel of his javelin, and the weapon protruded from his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, came to a halt.

24 Joab and Abishai, however, continued the pursuit of Abner. The sun had gone down when they came to the hill of Ammah which lies east of the valley toward the desert near Geba.

25 Here the Benjaminites rallied around Abner, forming a single group, and made a stand on the hilltop.

26 Then Abner called to Joab and said: "Must the sword destroy to the utmost? Do you not know that afterward there will be bitterness? How much longer will you refrain from ordering the people to stop the pursuit of their brothers?"

27 Joab replied, "As God lives, if you had not spoken, the soldiers would not have been withdrawn from the pursuit of their brothers until morning."

28 Joab then sounded the horn, and all the soldiers came to a halt, pursuing Israel no farther and fighting no more.

29 Abner and his men marched all night long through the Arabah, crossed the Jordan, marched all through the morning, and came to Mahanaim.

30 Joab, after interrupting the pursuit of Abner, assembled all the men. Besides Asahel, nineteen other servants of David were missing.

31 But David's servants had fatally wounded three hundred and sixty men of Benjamin, followers of Abner.

32 They took up Asahel and buried him in his father's tomb in Bethlehem. Joab and his men made an all-night march, and dawn found them in Hebron.

 

v 1-4. After inquiring of the Lord, David and his men with all their families moved from Ziklag to the cities in Judah surrounding Hebron. The men of Judah came and anointed David king, v4, and informed him of the good the men of Jabesh-Gilead did concerning the bodies of Saul and his sons. (Anointed by Samuel, 1 Sam. 13, Israel,   2 Sam. 5:3.)

 

 

 

v 5-7. David’s commendation to the men of Jabesh-Gilead was tactful and kind, as well as an encouragement for them to accept him as king. (Wise politically)

v 8-11. More than loyalty to Saul’s family, Abner probably knew Joab would be David’s general, and he would have more opportunity as a general for Ishbosheth. Ishbosheth was 40 when his father died, v 10. The fact that he was Saul’s youngest and most ineffective son may have been a consideration Abner had for gaining power. This left David as king over only Judah. Esh-baal in 1 Chron. 8:33and 9:39, meaning “fire of Baal” was the pagan original name of Ishbosheth, meaning “man of shame”. We don’t know how he got that distinction. He reigned only two years and we don’t know what disarray existed, but Abner was undoubtedly in control, 3:6. The civil war lasted seven years, six months.

V 12-17. Abner came a long way across the Jordan from Mahanaim to attack Joab before he was intercepted at Gibeon. Joab had come from Hebron, v 11,32. Abner suggested a contest of champions, similar to what Goliath had proposed. The simultaneous death of these 24 men at this place caused it to be called field of swords (possibly useddaggers). There was no decisive victory so a battle ensued in which Abner’s forces were beaten. This was of God for David’s sake. The nature of this gruesome game is not clear, and the place name is variously given in the older texts.

v 18-24. Asahel was fleet footed but not as well trained for battle. Abner  gave him a chance to withdraw because he was Joab’s brother. Asahel continued the pursuit, so the more experienced Abner killed him with the butt of his spear. These were sharpened so they could be struck upright into the ground. Under the fifth rib would be the heart, but all the short ribs were sometimes considered the fifth rib. This meant striking through the liver. All the other soldiers stopped to view Asahel’s body, but his brothers, Joab and Abishai, David’s nephews, led the continued pursuit till the sun went down.

25-28. Abner, now loosing, formed a solid battle line on top of a hill, and both he and Joab realized there would be a bloody battle if Joab continued the fight in these unfavorable conditions. Abner was the one who initiated the battle, and Joab is actually saying, “If you hadn’t spoken this morning, the people would have returned without there being a battle”. So Joab blew a trumpet and the fighting ceased. v 24-29. David was not fleeing in confusion, but was carefully laying down the groundwork for victory, should the Lord grant it. David sent back the priests with the ark, as well as their sons who could be messengers to David in the wilderness.

v 29-31. It was an all night march for Abner’s men to return home, and they had lost 360 men to David’s 20. v 30,31. Absalom rode in a chariot with an escort, v 1,  while David went barefoot. David and his people were all weeping as they ascended the mount of Olives. There he learned that his advisor, Ahithophel, had joined  Absalom, so he called upon God to confound Ahithophel’s advice.

v 32. While they were stopped at the top of the mount to worship, Hushai, another advisor caught up with them in mourning. He would be just another one to care for in fleeing, so David sent him back to the city to use a white lie or deception to convince Absalom he was on his side. Then Ahimaaz and Jonathan, the sons of the priests,  were to be the messengers. Joab’s men also walked all night on their return to Hebron, but they carried Asahel’s body and stopped to bury it in his father’s sepulcher in Bethlehem. Asked them and their families to come along. Ittai later led one of the three armies. Then they passed over the nearby Kidron brook on the way to the wilderness.