Context 4Then the men of Judah came and there anointed David king over the house of Judah.And they told David, saying, It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul. 5David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, May you be blessed of the LORD because you have shown this kindness to Saul your lord, and have buried him. 6Now may the LORD show lovingkindness and truth to you; and I also will show this goodness to you, because you have done this thing. 7Now therefore, let your hands be strong and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them. Ish-bosheth Made King over Israel 8But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Sauls army, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. 9He made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, even over all Israel. 10Ish-bosheth, Sauls son, was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he was king for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David. 11The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. Civil War 12Now Abner the son of Ner, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon with the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul. 13And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, one on the one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool. 14Then Abner said to Joab, Now let the young men arise and hold a contest before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. 15So they arose and went over by count, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16Each one of them seized his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponents side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. 17That day the battle was very severe, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David. 18Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel; and Asahel was as swift-footed as one of the gazelles which is in the field. 19Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn to the right or to the left from following Abner. 20Then Abner looked behind him and said, Is that you, Asahel? And he answered, It is I. 21So Abner said to him, Turn to your right or to your left, and take hold of one of the young men for yourself, and take for yourself his spoil. But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him. 22Abner repeated again to Asahel, Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab? 23However, he refused to turn aside; therefore Abner struck him in the belly with the butt end of the spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died on the spot. And it came about that all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still. 24But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and when the sun was going down, they came to the hill of Ammah, which is in front of Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 25The sons of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one band, and they stood on the top of a certain hill. 26Then Abner called to Joab and said, Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long will you refrain from telling the people to turn back from following their brothers? 27Joab said, As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then the people would have gone away in the morning, each from following his brother. 28So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people halted and pursued Israel no longer, nor did they continue to fight anymore. 29Abner and his men then went through the Arabah all that night; so they crossed the Jordan, walked all morning, and came to Mahanaim. 30Then Joab returned from following Abner; when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen of Davids servants besides Asahel were missing. 31But the servants of David had struck down many of Benjamin and Abners men, so that three hundred and sixty men died. 32And they took up Asahel and buried him in his fathers tomb which was in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men went all night until the day dawned at Hebron. Parallel Verses American Standard VersionAnd the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, The men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul. Douay-Rheims Bible And the men of Juda came, and anointed David there, to be king over the house of Juda. And it was told David, that the men of Jabes Galaad had buried Saul. Darby Bible Translation And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, It is the men of Jabesh-Gilead that have buried Saul. English Revised Version And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, The men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul. Webster's Bible Translation 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. World English Bible The men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David, saying, "The men of Jabesh Gilead were those who buried Saul." Young's Literal Translation 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.' Library The Bright Dawn of a Reign'And it came to pass after this, that David enquired 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 … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The King. This Affection the Martyrs of Christ Contending for the Truth did Overcome... The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt How the Meek and the Passionate are to be Admonished. Samuel Links 2 Samuel 2:4 NIV • 2 Samuel 2:4 NLT • 2 Samuel 2:4 ESV • 2 Samuel 2:4 NASB • 2 Samuel 2:4 KJV • 2 Samuel 2:4 Bible Apps • 2 Samuel 2:4 Parallel • Bible Hub |