| Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Some time later, David inquired of the LORD: "Should I go to one of the towns of Judah?" The LORD answered him, "Go." Then David asked, "Where should I go?" "To Hebron," the LORD replied. | 1Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” “Go up,” the LORD answered. Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To Hebron,” replied the LORD. |
| 2So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail, the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. | 2So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. |
| 3In addition, David brought the men who were with him, each one with his family, and they settled in the towns near Hebron. | 3David also took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron. |
| 4Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David: "It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul." | 4Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.” |
| 5David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, "The LORD bless you, because you have shown this kindness to Saul your lord when you buried him. | 5So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead to tell them, “The LORD bless you, because you showed this kindness to Saul your lord when you buried him. |
| 6Now, may the LORD show kindness and faithfulness to you, and I will also show the same goodness to you because you have done this deed. | 6Now may the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness, and I will also show you the same favor because you have done this. |
| 7Therefore, be strong and valiant, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me king over them." | 7Now then, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me as their king.” |
| 8Abner son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, took Saul's son Ish-bosheth and moved him to Mahanaim. | 8Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim, |
| 9He made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin--over all Israel. | 9and made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel. |
| 10Saul's son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he became king over Israel; he reigned for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David. | 10Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David. |
| 11The length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. | 11And the length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. |
| 12Abner son of Ner and soldiers of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. | 12One day Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. |
| 13So Joab son of Zeruiah and David's soldiers marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. The two groups took up positions on opposite sides of the pool. | 13So Joab son of Zeruiah, along with the servants of David, marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. And the two camps took up positions on opposite sides of the pool. |
| 14Then Abner said to Joab, "Let's have the young men get up and compete in front of us." "Let them get up," Joab replied. | 14Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” “Let them get up,” Joab replied. |
| 15So they got up and were counted off--twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from David's soldiers. | 15So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. |
| 16Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent's side so that they all died together. So this place, which is in Gibeon, is named Field of Blades. | 16Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side, and they all fell together. So this place, which is in Gibeon, is called Helkath-hazzurim. |
| 17The battle that day was extremely fierce, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by David's soldiers. | 17The battle that day was intense, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David. |
| 18The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was a fast runner, like one of the wild gazelles. | 18The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle, |
| 19He chased Abner and did not turn to the right or the left in his pursuit of him. | 19and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit. |
| 20Abner glanced back and said, "Is that you, Asahel?" "Yes it is," Asahel replied. | 20And Abner glanced back and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” “It is,” Asahel replied. |
| 21Abner said to him, "Turn to your right or left, seize one of the young soldiers, and take whatever you can get from him." But Asahel would not stop chasing him. | 21So Abner told him, “Turn to your right or to your left, seize one of the young men, and take his equipment for yourself.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him. |
| 22Once again, Abner warned Asahel, "Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I ever look your brother Joab in the face?" | 22Once again, Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?” |
| 23But Asahel refused to turn away, so Abner hit him in the stomach with the butt of his spear. The spear went through his body, and he fell and died right there. As they all came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, they stopped, | 23But Asahel refused to turn away; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into his stomach, and it came out his back, and he fell dead on the spot. And every man paused when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died. |
| 24but Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah, which is opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. | 24But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. |
| 25The Benjaminites rallied to Abner; they formed a unit and took their stand on top of a hill. | 25The Benjamites rallied to Abner, formed a single unit, and took their stand atop a hill. |
| 26Then Abner called out to Joab: "Must the sword devour forever? Don't you realize this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?" | 26Then Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?” |
| 27"As God lives," Joab replied, "if you had not spoken up, the troops wouldn't have stopped pursuing their brothers until morning." | 27“As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.” |
| 28Then Joab blew the ram's horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight. | 28So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight. |
| 29So Abner and his men marched through the Arabah all that night. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning, and arrived at Mahanaim. | 29And all that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning, and arrived at Mahanaim. |
| 30When Joab had turned back from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel, nineteen of David's soldiers were missing, | 30When Joab returned from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel, nineteen of David’s servants were missing, |
| 31but they had killed 360 of the Benjaminites and Abner's men. | 31but they had struck down 360 Benjamites who were with Abner. |
| 32Afterward, they carried Asahel to his father's tomb in Bethlehem and buried him. Then Joab and his men marched all night and reached Hebron at dawn. | 32Later, they took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and reached Hebron at daybreak. |
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