2:1 In the course of time, David inquired of the LORD. 'Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?' he asked. The LORD said, 'Go up.' David asked, 'Where shall I go?' 'To Hebron,' the LORD answered.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 1 , In the course of time, David inquired of the LORD. 'Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?' he asked. The LORD said, 'Go up.' David asked, 'Where shall I go?' 'To Hebron,' the LORD answered.
2:2 So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 2 , So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
2:3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 3 , David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns.
2:4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. When David was told that it was the men of Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul,
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 4 , Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. When David was told that it was the men of Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul,
2:5 he sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead to say to them, 'The LORD bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 5 , he sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead to say to them, 'The LORD bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him.
2:6 May the LORD now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 6 , May the LORD now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this.
2:7 Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.'
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 7 , Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.'
2:8 Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul's army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 8 , Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul's army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.
2:9 He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 9 , He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.
2:10 Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 10 , Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.
2:11 The length of time David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 11 , The length of time David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
2:12 Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 12 , Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon.
2:13 Joab son of Zeruiah and David's men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 13 , Joab son of Zeruiah and David's men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side.
2:14 Then Abner said to Joab, 'Let's have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us.' 'All right, let them do it,' Joab said.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 14 , Then Abner said to Joab, 'Let's have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us.' 'All right, let them do it,' Joab said.
2:15 So they stood up and were counted off--twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 15 , So they stood up and were counted off--twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David.
2:16 Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent's side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 16 , Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent's side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.
2:17 The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by David's men.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 17 , The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by David's men.
2:18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 18 , The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle.
2:19 He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 19 , He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him.
2:20 Abner looked behind him and asked, 'Is that you, Asahel?' 'It is,' he answered.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 20 , Abner looked behind him and asked, 'Is that you, Asahel?' 'It is,' he answered.
2:21 Then Abner said to him, 'Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons.' But Asahel would not stop chasing him.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 21 , Then Abner said to him, 'Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons.' But Asahel would not stop chasing him.
2:22 Again Abner warned Asahel, 'Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?'
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 22 , Again Abner warned Asahel, 'Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?'
2:23 But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel's stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 23 , But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel's stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.
2:24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 24 , But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon.
2:25 Then the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 25 , Then the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill.
2:26 Abner called out to Joab, 'Must the sword devour forever? Don't you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their brothers?'
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 26 , Abner called out to Joab, 'Must the sword devour forever? Don't you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their brothers?'
2:27 Joab answered, 'As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued the pursuit of their brothers until morning.'
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 27 , Joab answered, 'As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued the pursuit of their brothers until morning.'
2:28 So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men came to a halt; they no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 28 , So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men came to a halt; they no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore.
2:29 All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, continued through the whole Bithron and came to Mahanaim.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 29 , All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, continued through the whole Bithron and came to Mahanaim.
2:30 Then Joab returned from pursuing Abner and assembled all his men. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David's men were found missing.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 30 , Then Joab returned from pursuing Abner and assembled all his men. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David's men were found missing.
2:31 But David's men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 31 , But David's men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner.
2:32 They took Asahel and buried him in his father's tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 2 , Verse 32 , They took Asahel and buried him in his father's tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.
