| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1After this, David asked the LORD, “Should I move back to one of the towns of Judah?” “Yes,” the LORD replied. Then David asked, “Which town should I go to?” “To Hebron,” the LORD answered. | 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. |
| 2David’s two wives were Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. So David and his wives | 2So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. |
| 3and his men and their families all moved to Judah, and they settled in the villages 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 to David and anointed him king over the people of Judah. When David heard that the men of Jabesh-gilead had 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.” |
| 5he sent them this message: “May the LORD bless you for being so loyal to your master Saul and giving him a decent burial. | 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. |
| 6May the LORD be loyal to you in return and reward you with his unfailing love! And I, too, will reward you for what you have done. | 6Now may the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness, and I will also show you the same favor because you have done this. |
| 7Now that Saul is dead, I ask you to be my strong and loyal subjects like the people of Judah, who have anointed me as their new king.” Ishbosheth Proclaimed King of Israel | 7Now then, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me as their king.” |
| 8But Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had already gone to Mahanaim with Saul’s son Ishbosheth. | 8Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim, |
| 9There he proclaimed Ishbosheth king over Gilead, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, the land of the Ashurites, and all the rest of Israel. | 9and made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel. |
| 10Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king, and he ruled from Mahanaim for two years. Meanwhile, the people of Judah remained loyal to 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. |
| 11David made Hebron his capital, and he ruled as king of Judah for seven and a half years. War between Israel and Judah | 11And the length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. |
| 12One day Abner led Ishbosheth’s troops 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. |
| 13About the same time, Joab son of Zeruiah led David’s troops out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. The two groups sat down there, facing each other from 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 suggested to Joab, “Let’s have a few of our warriors fight hand to hand here in front of us.” “All right,” Joab agreed. | 14Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” “Let them get up,” Joab replied. |
| 15So twelve men were chosen to fight from each side—twelve men of Benjamin representing Ishbosheth son of Saul, and twelve representing David. | 15So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. |
| 16Each one grabbed his opponent by the hair and thrust his sword into the other’s side so that all of them died. So this place at Gibeon has been known ever since as the Field of Swords. | 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. |
| 17A fierce battle followed that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the forces of David. The Death of Asahel | 17The battle that day was intense, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David. |
| 18Joab, Abishai, and Asahel—the three sons of Zeruiah—were among David’s forces that day. Asahel could run like a gazelle, | 18The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle, |
| 19and he began chasing Abner. He pursued him relentlessly, not stopping for anything. | 19and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit. |
| 20When Abner looked back and saw him coming, he called out, “Is that you, Asahel?” “Yes, it is,” he replied. | 20And Abner glanced back and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” “It is,” Asahel replied. |
| 21“Go fight someone else!” Abner warned. “Take on one of the younger men, and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel kept right on chasing Abner. | 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. |
| 22Again Abner shouted to him, “Get away from here! I don’t want to kill you. How could I ever face your brother Joab again?” | 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 back, so Abner thrust the butt end of his spear through Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He stumbled to the ground and died there. And everyone who came by that spot stopped and stood still when they saw Asahel lying there. | 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. |
| 24When Joab and Abishai found out what had happened, they set out after Abner. The sun was just going down as they arrived at the hill of Ammah near Giah, along the road 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. |
| 25Abner’s troops from the tribe of Benjamin regrouped there at the top of the hill to take a stand. | 25The Benjamites rallied to Abner, formed a single unit, and took their stand atop a hill. |
| 26Abner shouted down to Joab, “Must we always be killing each other? Don’t you realize that bitterness is the only result? When will you call off your men from chasing their Israelite 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?” |
| 27Then Joab said, “God only knows what would have happened if you hadn’t spoken, for we would have chased you all night if necessary.” | 27“As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.” |
| 28So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and his men stopped chasing the troops of Israel. | 28So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight. |
| 29All that night Abner and his men retreated through the Jordan Valley. They crossed the Jordan River, traveling all through the morning, and didn’t stop until they 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. |
| 30Meanwhile, Joab and his men also returned home. When Joab counted his casualties, he discovered that only 19 men were missing in addition to Asahel. | 30When Joab returned from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel, nineteen of David’s servants were missing, |
| 31But 360 of Abner’s men had been killed, all from the tribe of Benjamin. | 31but they had struck down 360 Benjamites who were with Abner. |
| 32Joab and his men took Asahel’s body to Bethlehem and buried him there in his father’s tomb. Then they traveled all night and reached Hebron at daybreak. | 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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