2 Samuel, Chapter 2:

Verses from 2 Samuel, Chapter 2 of the book of 2 Samuel of the Bible.

David is anointed king over Judah

• 1. After a while, David asked the Lord, “Should I go to one of the cities of Judah?” The Lord responded affirmatively, and David asked which city he should go to. The Lord replied, “Hebron.”
• 2. Then David went to Hebron with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. Upon receiving news that the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead had buried Saul,
• 3. David took with him the men who accompanied him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and the surrounding villages.
• 4. The men of Judah went to Hebron and anointed David king of the tribe of Judah.
• 5. David sent messengers to thank him: “May the Lord bless you for your loyalty in providing burial for Saul your king.
• 6. May the Lord be faithful to you. I will also make a pact of friendship with you for doing this good deed.
• 7. Now be strong and courageous, for your master Saul is dead, and I have been anointed king by the tribe of Judah.”

War between the armies of David and Saul

• 8. Meanwhile, Abner, son of Ner and commander of Saul's army, took Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, to Mahanaim,
• 9. where he proclaimed him king over Gilead, Asuri, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin and over all Israel.
• 10. Ish-Bosheth, the son of Saul, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. Meanwhile, the tribe of Judah followed David,
• 11. who ruled in Hebron for seven and a half years.
• 12. Abner son of Ner and the soldiers of Ish-Bosheth left Mahanaim and marched to Gibeon.
• 13. Joab son of Zeruiah and David's soldiers met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group stood on one side of the pond, the other group on the opposite side.
• 14. Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us choose some men to fight before us.” Joab replied, “Okay.”
• 15. Twelve soldiers from Benjamin, allies of Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, crossed the pond to face twelve soldiers allied with David.
• 16. Each soldier grabbed his opponent by the head and struck him with his sword, and both fell dead. Therefore that place in Gibeon was called Helcate-Hazurim.
• 17. There was a fierce battle that day, and Abner and the soldiers of Israel were defeated by the soldiers of David.
• 18. Joab, Abishai and Asahel, the three sons of Zeruiah, were there. Asahel was as quick as a gazelle on level ground,
• 19. and he pursued Abner without turning to the right or to the left.
• 20. Abner looked back and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?” “Yes, it’s me,” he replied.
• 21. Abner then said, “You had better move to the right or to the left and capture one of the soldiers to keep their weapons.” But Asael refused to stop pursuing him.
• 22. Then Abner warned him again: “Stop persecuting me! I don't want to kill him. How could he face his brother Joab again?”
• 23. But Asahel did not give up pursuing him, and Abner thrust the tip of his spear into Asahel's stomach, piercing his back. Asahel fell and died in the same place. Everyone who arrived at the scene stopped and looked at where Asael was lying.
• 24. Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. At sunset they came to the hill of Amah, before Gia, on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.
• 25. The soldiers of Benjamin, following Abner, gathered together and occupied the top of a hill.
• 26. Then Abner called Joab and said, “The continuation of this bloodshed is unnecessary. Don't you realize that this will only bring bitterness? When will you order your army to stop persecuting your brothers?”
• 27. Joab replied, “I swear by the name of God that if you had not spoken out, my army would have continued to pursue your brothers until morning.”
• 28. Then Joab blew the trumpet, and his army stopped pursuing Israel and fighting.
• 29. Abner and his soldiers marched through the Arabah all night. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning and arrived at Mahanaim.
• 30. When Joab returned from pursuing Abner, he gathered his entire army together. They said that nineteen soldiers were missing, in addition to Asael.
• 31. On the other hand, David's soldiers had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner.
• 32. They took Asahel's body and buried it in his father's tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his soldiers marched all night and arrived at Hebron at dawn.

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