| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1It happened after this that David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “To Hebron.” | 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 up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, 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. |
| 3And David brought up the men who were with him, every man with his household. So they dwelt in the cities of 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. And they told David, saying, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones 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.” |
| 5So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, “You are blessed of the LORD, for you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have 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. |
| 6And now may the LORD show kindness and truth to you. I also will repay you this kindness, because you have done this thing. | 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 therefore, let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and also 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.” |
| 8But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim; | 8Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim, |
| 9and he made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all 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 began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. Only the house of Judah 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. |
| 11And the 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. |
| 12Now Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went 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. |
| 13And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. So they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side 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 the young men now arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.” | 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 arose and went over by number, twelve from Benjamin, followers of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David. | 15So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. |
| 16And each one grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called the Field of Sharp Swords, which is in Gibeon. | 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. |
| 17So there was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David. | 17The battle that day was intense, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David. |
| 18Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was as fleet of foot as a wild gazelle. | 18The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle, |
| 19So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner. | 19and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit. |
| 20Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Are you Asahel?” He answered, “I am.” | 20And Abner glanced back and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” “It is,” Asahel replied. |
| 21And Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one of the young men and take his armor for yourself.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following 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. |
| 22So Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I face your brother Joab?” | 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?” |
| 23However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the blunt end of the spear, so that the spear came out of his back; and he fell down there and died on the spot. So it was that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still. | 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. |
| 24Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner. And the sun was going down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah by 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. |
| 25Now the children of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became 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 to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the latter end? How long will it be then until you tell the people to return from pursuing their brethren?” | 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?” |
| 27And Joab said, “As God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren.” | 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 a trumpet; and all the people stood still and did not pursue Israel anymore, nor did they fight anymore. | 28So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight. |
| 29Then Abner and his men went on all that night through the plain, crossed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron; and they came to Mahanaim. | 29And all that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning, and arrived at Mahanaim. |
| 30So Joab returned from pursuing Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel. | 30When Joab returned from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel, nineteen of David’s servants were missing, |
| 31But the servants of David had struck down, of Benjamin and Abner’s men, three hundred and sixty men who died. | 31but they had struck down 360 Benjamites who were with Abner. |
| 32Then they took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to 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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