David Anointed King of Judah

1Some time later, David (beloved) inquired of the LORD {YHWH}, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah (praised)?”

“Go up,” the LORD answered.

Then David asked, “Where should I go?”

“To Hebron (association),” replied the LORD.

2So David (beloved) went there with his two wives, Ahinoam (my brother is delight) of Jezreel and Abigail (my father is joy) the widow of Nabal (fool) of Carmel. 3David also (beloved) took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron (association).

4Then the men of Judah (praised) came to Hebron, and there they anointed David (beloved) king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead (dry) (rocky region) who buried Saul (desired).”

5So David (beloved) sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead (dry) (rocky region) to tell them, “The LORD {YHWH} bless you⁺, because you⁺ showed this kindness to Saul (desired) your⁺ lord when you⁺ buried him. 6Now may the LORD {YHWH} show you⁺ loving devotion {chesed}a and faithfulness, and I will also show you⁺ the same favor because you⁺ have done this. 7Now then, be strong and courageous, for though Saul (desired) your⁺ lord is dead, the house of Judah (praised) has anointed me as their king.”

Ish-bosheth Made King of Israel

8Meanwhile, Abner (my father is a lamp) son of Ner (lamp), the commander of Saul’s (desired) army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth (man of shame),b moved him to Mahanaim (two camps), 9and made him king over Gilead (rocky region), Asher (guided: blessed), Jezreel (God sows), Ephraim (doubly fruitful), and Benjamin (son of the right hand)—over all Israel (he wrestles with God).

10Saul’s (desired) son Ish-bosheth (man of shame) was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel (he wrestles with God), and he reigned for two years.

The house of Judah (praised), however, followed David (beloved). 11And the length of time that David (beloved) was king in Hebron (association) over the house of Judah (praised) was seven years and six months.

The Battle of Gibeon

12One day Abner (my father is a lamp) son of Ner (lamp) and the servants of Ish-bosheth (man of shame) son of Saul (desired) marched out from Mahanaim (two camps) to Gibeon (hill city). 13So Joab (YHWH is father) son of Zeruiah (balsam) and the servants of David (beloved) marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon (hill city). And the two groups took up positions on opposite sides of the pool.

14Then Abner (my father is a lamp) said to Joab (YHWH is father), “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 (son of the right hand) and Ish-bosheth (man of shame) son of Saul (desired), and twelve for David (beloved). 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 (hill city), is called Helkath-hazzurim (field of swords).c

17The battle that day was intense, and Abner (my father is a lamp) and the men of Israel (he wrestles with God) were defeated by the servants of David (beloved).

18The three sons of Zeruiah (balsam) were there: Joab (YHWH is father), Abishai (my father is a gift), and Asahel (God-made). Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle, 19and he (God-made) chased Abner (my father is a lamp), not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit. 20And Abner (my father is a lamp) glanced back and said, “Is that you, Asahel (God-made)?”

“It is,” Asahel replied.

21So Abner (my father is a lamp) told him, “Turn to your right or to your left, seize one of the young men, and take his equipment for yourself.”

But Asahel (God-made) would not stop chasing him.

22Once again, Abner (my father is a lamp) warned Asahel (God-made), “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I show my face to your brother Joab (YHWH is father)?”

23But Asahel refused to turn away. So Abner (my father is a lamp) 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 (God-made) had fallen and died. 24But Joab (YHWH is father) and Abishai (my father is a gift) pursued Abner (my father is a lamp). By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah (a cubit) opposite Giah (to break forth) on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon (hill city).

25The Benjamites (son of the right hand) rallied to Abner (my father is a lamp), formed a single unit, and took their stand atop a hill. 26Then Abner (my father is a lamp) called out to Joab (YHWH is father): “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 surely as God {Elohim} lives,” Joab (YHWH is father) replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.”

28So Joab (YHWH is father) blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel (he wrestles with God) or continued to fight. 29And all that night Abner (my father is a lamp) and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan (flowing down), marched all morning [marched all through Bithron],d and arrived at Mahanaim (two camps).

30When Joab (YHWH is father) returned from pursuing Abner (my father is a lamp), he gathered all the troops.

In addition to Asahel (God-made), nineteen of David’s (beloved) servants were missing, 31but they (beloved) had struck down 360 Benjamites (son of the right hand) who were with Abner (my father is a lamp). 32And they took Asahel (God-made) and buried him in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem (house of bread). Then Joab (YHWH is father) and his men marched all night and reached Hebron (association) at daybreak.