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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//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"><title>2 Samuel 2 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></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="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</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">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">David Becomes King of Judah</h3><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_1"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.1" class="v10_2_1">1</span>Later, David asked the <span class="nd">Lord</span>, “Should I go back to one of the towns of Judah?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_1">The <span class="nd">Lord</span> answered, “Yes.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_1">David asked, “Which town should I go to?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_1">“Go to Hebron,” the <span class="nd">Lord</span> replied.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_2"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.2" class="v10_2_2">2</span><a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.2.2!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> David went to Hebron with his two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail. Ahinoam was from Jezreel, and Abigail was the widow of Nabal from Carmel. </span><span class="v10_2_3"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.3" class="v10_2_3">3</span>David also told his men and their families to come and live in the villages near Hebron.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_4"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.4" class="v10_2_4">4</span><a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.2.4!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> The people of Judah met with David at Hebron and poured olive oil on his head to show that he was their new king. Then they told David, “The people from Jabesh in Gilead buried Saul.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_5"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.5" class="v10_2_5">5</span>David sent messengers to tell them:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v10_2_5">The <span class="nd">Lord</span> bless you! You were kind enough to bury Saul your ruler, </span><span class="v10_2_6"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.6" class="v10_2_6">6</span>and I pray that the <span class="nd">Lord</span> will be kind and faithful to you. I will be your friend because of what you have done. </span><span class="v10_2_7"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.7" class="v10_2_7">7</span>Saul is dead, but the tribe of Judah has made me their king. So be strong and have courage.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Ishbosheth Becomes King of Israel</h3><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_8"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.8" class="v10_2_8">8</span>Abner the son of Ner<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.2.8!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> had been the general of Saul's army. He took Saul's son Ishbosheth<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.2.8!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> across the Jordan River to Mahanaim </span><span class="v10_2_9"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.9" class="v10_2_9">9</span>and made him king of Israel,<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.2.9!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> including the areas of Gilead, Asher,<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.2.9!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin. </span><span class="v10_2_10"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.10" class="v10_2_10">10</span>Ishbosheth was 40 years old at the time, and he ruled for two years. But the tribe of Judah made David their king, </span><span class="v10_2_11"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.11" class="v10_2_11">11</span>and he ruled from Hebron for seven and a half years.</span></p><h3 class="s1">The War between David and Ishbosheth</h3><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_12"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.12" class="v10_2_12">12</span>One day, Abner and the soldiers of Ishbosheth<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.2.12!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. </span><span class="v10_2_13"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.13" class="v10_2_13">13</span>Meanwhile, Joab the son of Zeruiah<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.2.13!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> was leading David's soldiers, and the two groups met at the pool in Gibeon.<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.2.13!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> Abner and his men sat down on one side of the pool, while Joab and his men sat on the other side. </span><span class="v10_2_14"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.14" class="v10_2_14">14</span>Abner yelled to Joab, “Let's get some of our best soldiers to stand up and fight each other!”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_14">Joab agreed, </span><span class="v10_2_15"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.15" class="v10_2_15">15</span>and twelve of Ishbosheth's men from the tribe of Benjamin got up to fight twelve of David's men. </span><span class="v10_2_16"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.16" class="v10_2_16">16</span>They grabbed each other by the hair and stabbed each other in the side with their daggers. They all died right there! That's why the place in Gibeon is called “Field of Daggers.”<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.2.16!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span><span class="v10_2_17"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.17" class="v10_2_17">17</span>Then everyone started fighting. Both sides fought very hard, but David's soldiers defeated Abner and the soldiers of Israel.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_18"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.18" class="v10_2_18">18</span>Zeruiah's three sons were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel could run as fast as a deer in an open field, </span><span class="v10_2_19"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.19" class="v10_2_19">19</span>and he ran straight after Abner, without looking to the right or to the left.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_20"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.20" class="v10_2_20">20</span>When Abner turned and saw him, he said, “Is that you, Asahel?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_20">Asahel answered, “Yes it is.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_21"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.21" class="v10_2_21">21</span>Abner said, “There are soldiers all around. Stop chasing me and fight one of them! Kill him and take his clothes and weapons for yourself.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_21">But Asahel refused to stop.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_22"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.22" class="v10_2_22">22</span>Abner said, “If you don't turn back, I'll have to kill you! Then I could never face your brother Joab again.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_23"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.23" class="v10_2_23">23</span>But Asahel would not turn back, so Abner struck him in the stomach with the back end of his spear. The spear went all the way through and came out of his back. Asahel fell down and died. Everyone who saw Asahel lying dead just stopped and stood still. </span><span class="v10_2_24"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.24" class="v10_2_24">24</span>But Joab and Abishai went after Abner. Finally, about sunset, they came to the hill of Ammah, not far from Giah on the road to Gibeon Desert. </span><span class="v10_2_25"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.25" class="v10_2_25">25</span>Abner brought the men of Benjamin together in one group on top of a hill, and they got ready to fight.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_26"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.26" class="v10_2_26">26</span>Abner shouted to Joab, “Aren't we ever going to stop killing each other? Don't you know that the longer we keep on doing this, the worse it's going to be when it's all over? When are you going to order your men to stop chasing their own relatives?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_27"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.27" class="v10_2_27">27</span>Joab shouted back, “I swear by the living God, if you hadn't spoken, my men would have chased their relatives all night!” </span><span class="v10_2_28"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.28" class="v10_2_28">28</span>Joab took his trumpet and blew the signal for his soldiers to stop chasing the soldiers of Israel. At once, the fighting stopped.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_29"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.29" class="v10_2_29">29</span>Abner and his troops marched through the Jordan River valley all that night. Then they crossed the river and marched all morning<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.2.29!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> until they arrived back at Mahanaim.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_2_30"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.30" class="v10_2_30">30</span>As soon as Joab stopped chasing Abner, he got David's troops together and counted them. There were 19 missing besides Asahel. </span><span class="v10_2_31"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.31" class="v10_2_31">31</span>But David's soldiers had killed 360 of Abner's men from the tribe of Benjamin. </span><span class="v10_2_32"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.2.32" class="v10_2_32">32</span>Joab and his troops carried Asahel's body to Bethlehem and buried him in the family burial place. Then they marched all night and reached Hebron before sunrise.</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.8 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">son of Ner: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Abner was Saul's cousin (see 1 Samuel 14.50).</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.8 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Ishbosheth: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">One ancient translation has “Ishbaal” (see also 1 Chronicles 8.33). In Hebrew “baal” means “lord” and was used as the name of a Canaanite god. The people of Israel often changed “baal” to “bosheth” (which means “shame”) in personal names. Ishbosheth was probably called Ishvi or Ishyo in 1 Samuel 14.49.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.9 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Israel: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Sometimes “Israel” means the northern tribes and does not include the tribes of Judah and Simeon. That is how it is used in this verse.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.9 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Asher: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Hebrew text has “Ashur,” which is the Hebrew name for the Assyrians. It may be another spelling for Asher (one of the tribes of Israel) or it may refer to Geshur (a small area between Gilead and Jezreel, east of Lake Galilee).</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.12 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Ishbosheth: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 2.8.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.13 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">the son of Zeruiah: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Zeruiah was David's older sister, so Joab was David's nephew (see 1 Chronicles 2.12-17 and the note at 2 Samuel 17.25).</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.13 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">pool in Gibeon: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">This pool was located just inside the city wall and was used for storing water. It was in the shape of a circle and was eleven meters wide and eleven meters deep.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.16 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Field of Daggers: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “Field of Opponents” or “Battlefield.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.29 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">all morning: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. 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