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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>2 Samuel 2 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/2_samuel/2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/2_samuel/2-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ISV</a> > 2 Samuel 2</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../2_samuel/1.htm" title="2 Samuel 1">◄</a> 2 Samuel 2 <a href="../2_samuel/3.htm" title="2 Samuel 3">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/2_samuel/2.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">David Becomes King over Judah</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Some time later, David inquired of the LORD to ask, “Am I to move<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="2:1 Lit. to go up">a</a></span> to any one of the cities of Judah?”</p> <p class="reg">The LORD told him, “Go.”</p> <p class="reg">So David asked, “To which one?”</p> <p class="reg">He replied, “To Hebron.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>So David went there, along with his two wives Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, widow of Nabal from Carmel. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>David brought his army<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="2:3 Lit. men">b</a></span> with him, each soldier accompanied by his household, and they settled in the cities of Hebron. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>After this, the army of Judah arrived, and they anointed David king over the house of Judah.</p> <p class="reg">There they informed David, “The men of Jabesh-gilead buried Saul.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>So David sent messengers to the people<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="2:5 Lit. men">c</a></span> of Jabesh-gilead and told them, “May the LORD bless you, because you showed gracious love like<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="2:5 The Heb. lacks like">d</a></span> this to your lord Saul by burying him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Now may the Lord reward you with gracious love, as well as faithfulness, to you, too! And I will also reward you because you did this good thing. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>So strengthen yourselves, and be valiant in heart, because your lord Saul has died, and the household of Judah has anointed me to be king over them.”</p> <p class="heading">Abner’s Rebellion and the Battle at Gibeon</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Meanwhile, Ner’s son Abner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Saul’s son Ish-bosheth<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="2:8 MT means Shameful Man; cf. 1Chr 8:33, where he is named Esh-baal">e</a></span> and brought him to Mahanaim. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>He installed him as king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all of the rest of<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="2:9 The Heb. lacks the rest of">f</a></span> Israel. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Ish-bosheth began to reign over Israel at the age of 40 years, and he reigned for two years, even though Judah’s lineage followed David. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>The period of David’s kingship in Hebron lasted seven years and six months.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span> Ner’s son Abner and the servants of Saul’s son Ish-bosheth set out from Mahanaim for Gibeon. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Zeruiah’s son Joab and some of David’s staff went out to meet them at the pool of Gibeon. One side encamped on one side of the pool while the other encamped on the other side of the pool.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>Abner told Joab, “Let’s have the young men get up and fight in our presence.”</p> <p class="reg">Joab replied, “Let them come.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>So they got up and twelve were counted to represent Benjamin and Saul’s son Ish-bosheth and twelve to represent members of David’s staff. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Each man grabbed his opponent by the head, plunged<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="2:16 The Heb. lacks plunged">g</a></span> his sword into his opponent’s side, and then they both fell together. That’s why the place at Gibeon was named The Field of Swords.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="2:16 Lit. Helkath-hazzurim">h</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>The battle was very violent that day, with Abner and the men of Israel being defeated in the presence of David’s servants.</p> <p class="heading">Abner Kills Joab’s Brother Asahel</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>Zeruiah’s three sons Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were there. As a runner, Asahel was fast, like one of the wild gazelles. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>So Asahel ran straight<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="2:19 Lit. ran turning neither to the right nor to the left">i</a></span> after Abner, following him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>When Abner looked behind him, he said, “Is that you, Asahel?”</p> <p class="reg">He answered, “I am.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>Abner told him, “Go off to your right or left after one of the young men and grab some war spoils.” But Asahel would not stop following him, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>so Abner told Asahel again, “Stop following me. Why should I strike you down? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>But Asahel<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="2:23 Lit. he">j</a></span> refused to turn away, so Abner struck Asahel in the abdomen with the butt end of his spear, and the spear protruded through his back. He collapsed to the ground and died where he fell. Everyone gathered round the place where Asahel had collapsed and died, and stood still there.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Meanwhile, Joab and Abishai continued to chase Abner. At dusk, as they approached the hill of Ammah that is located near Giah on the way to the Gibeon desert, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>the descendants of Benjamin rallied around Abner, forming a single military force. They took their stand on top of the hill.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>Then Abner called out to Joab, “Must the battle sword keep on devouring forever? Don’t you realize that the end result is bitterness? How long will it take for you to order your army<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="2:26 Lit. people; and so throughout the chapter">k</a></span> to stop pursuing their own relatives?”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>Joab answered, “As God lives, if you hadn’t spoken up, by morning my army would have broken off their pursuit of their own relatives.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>So Joab sounded his battle trumpet, his entire army stopped pursuing Israel any longer, and they quit fighting.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>Abner and his army traveled through the Arabah by night, crossed the Jordan, and arrived at Mahanaim after marching all morning. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>Joab returned from his pursuit of Abner, and when he had mustered his entire army, nineteen of David’s soldiers<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="2:30 Lit. servants">l</a></span> were missing besides Asahel. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>Meanwhile, other<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="2:31 The Heb. lacks other">m</a></span> soldiers of David had killed 360 of Abner’s men from the tribe of<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="2:31 The Heb. lacks the tribe of">n</a></span> Benjamin. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/2-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>They retrieved Asahel’s body and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night until daybreak and arrived back in Hebron.</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 2:1 Lit. <i>to go up</i><br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 2:3 Lit. <i>men</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 2:5 Lit. <i>men</i><br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 2:5 The Heb. lacks <i>like</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 2:8 MT means <i>Shameful Man</i>; cf. 1Chr 8:33, where he is named <i>Esh-baal</i><br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 2:9 The Heb. lacks <i>the rest of</i><br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 2:16 The Heb. lacks <i>plunged</i><br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 2:16 Lit. <i>Helkath-hazzurim</i><br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 2:19 Lit. <i>ran turning neither to the right nor to the left</i><br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 2:23 Lit. <i>he</i><br /><span class="fnb">k</span> 2:26 Lit. <i>people</i>; and so throughout the chapter<br /><span class="fnb">l</span> 2:30 Lit. <i>servants</i><br /><span class="fnb">m</span> 2:31 The Heb. lacks <i>other</i><br /><span class="fnb">n</span> 2:31 The Heb. lacks <i>the tribe of</i><br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../2_samuel/1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Samuel 1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Samuel 1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../2_samuel/3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Samuel 3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Samuel 3" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/2_samuel/2-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><div align="center" style="background-color:#F2FAFF"><br /><br /><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /> </div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/botmenubhnm2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>