1 Later|strong="H0310" David|strong="H1732" asked|strong="H7592" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" for|strong="H0413" advice. David|strong="H1732" said|strong="H0559", “Should|strong="H3068" I|strong="H3651" take|strong="H1961" control of|strong="H3068" any|strong="H0259" of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0559" cities|strong="H5892" of|strong="H3068" Judah|strong="H3063"?”
2 So|strong="H5927" David|strong="H1732" and|strong="H1732" his|strong="H1732" two|strong="H8147" wives|strong="H0802" moved to|strong="H8033" Hebron. (His|strong="H1732" wives|strong="H0802" were|strong="H0802" Ahinoam|strong="H0293" from|strong="H5927" Jezreel and|strong="H1732" Abigail|strong="H0026", who|strong="H0802" had|strong="H1732" been|strong="H5927" the|strong="H1571" wife|strong="H0802" of|strong="H0802" Nabal|strong="H5037" from|strong="H5927" Carmel.)
3 David|strong="H1732" also|strong="H1732" brought|strong="H5927" his|strong="H1732" men|strong="H0376" and|strong="H1004" their|strong="H0834" families|strong="H1004". All|strong="H0376" of|strong="H1004" them|strong="H5927" made|strong="H0834" their|strong="H0834" homes|strong="H1004" in|strong="H3427" Hebron|strong="H2275" and|strong="H1004" the|strong="H0834" towns|strong="H5892" nearby.
4 The|strong="H0853" men|strong="H0376" of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0559" Hebron and|strong="H0935" anointed|strong="H4886" David|strong="H1732" to|strong="H0559" be|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063". Then|strong="H0853" they|strong="H0834" told|strong="H5046" David|strong="H1732", “The|strong="H0853" men|strong="H0376" of|strong="H4428" Jabesh|strong="H3003" Gilead|strong="H1568" buried|strong="H6912" Saul|strong="H7586".”
5 David|strong="H1732" sent|strong="H7971" messengers|strong="H4397" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" Jabesh|strong="H3003" Gilead|strong="H1568". These|strong="H2088" messengers|strong="H4397" told|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H0376" in|strong="H0413" Jabesh|strong="H3003": “The|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" bless|strong="H1288" you|strong="H0859", because|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0859" have|strong="H0834" shown|strong="H5973" kindness|strong="H2617" to|strong="H0413" your|strong="H3068" lord|strong="H3068" Saul|strong="H7586" by|strong="H3068" burying|strong="H6912" him|strong="H0413".
6 The|strong="H0834" LORD|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" be|strong="H1571" kind|strong="H2896" and|strong="H3068" true|strong="H0571" to|strong="H3068" you|strong="H0834", and|strong="H3068" so|strong="H6213" will|strong="H3068" I|strong="H0834".
7 Now|strong="H6258" be|strong="H1961" strong|strong="H2388" and|strong="H1121" brave|strong="H2428". Your|strong="H5921" lord|strong="H0113", Saul|strong="H7586", is|strong="H1571" dead|strong="H4191", but|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0853" tribe of|strong="H1121" Judah|strong="H3063" has|strong="H1961" anointed|strong="H4886" me|strong="H5921" to|strong="H4191" be|strong="H1961" their|strong="H5921" king|strong="H4428".”
8 Abner|strong="H0074" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ner|strong="H5369" was|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" captain|strong="H8269" of|strong="H1121" Saul’s|strong="H7586" army|strong="H6635". Abner|strong="H0074" took|strong="H3947" Ish Bosheth son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Saul|strong="H7586" to|strong="H1121" Mahanaim|strong="H4266"
9 and|strong="H3478" made|strong="H3605" him|strong="H0413" king|strong="H4427" of|strong="H5921" Gilead|strong="H1568", Asher, Jezreel|strong="H3157", Ephraim|strong="H0669", Benjamin|strong="H1144", and|strong="H3478" all|strong="H3605" Israel|strong="H3478".
10 Ish Bosheth son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Saul|strong="H7586" was|strong="H1961" 40 years|strong="H8141" old|strong="H1121" when|strong="H1961" he|strong="H0310" began|strong="H1961" to|strong="H1961" rule|strong="H4427" over|strong="H5921" Israel|strong="H3478". He|strong="H0310" ruled|strong="H4427" Israel|strong="H3478" two|strong="H8147" years|strong="H8141", but|strong="H0389" the|strong="H5921" tribe of|strong="H1121" Judah|strong="H3063" followed|strong="H0310" David|strong="H1732".
11 David|strong="H1732" ruled|strong="H4428" over|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0834" tribe of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063" from|strong="H5921" Hebron|strong="H2275" for|strong="H5921" seven|strong="H7651" years|strong="H8141" and|strong="H3063" six|strong="H8337" months|strong="H2320".
12 Abner|strong="H0074" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ner|strong="H5369" and|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3318" officers|strong="H5650" of|strong="H1121" Ish Bosheth son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Saul|strong="H7586" left|strong="H3318" Mahanaim|strong="H4266" and|strong="H1121" went|strong="H3318" to|strong="H5650" Gibeon|strong="H1391".
13 Joab|strong="H3097", Zeruiah’s|strong="H6870" son|strong="H1121", and|strong="H1121" the|strong="H5921" officers|strong="H5650" of|strong="H1121" David|strong="H1732" also|strong="H1732" went|strong="H3318" to|strong="H5921" Gibeon|strong="H1391". They|strong="H5921" met|strong="H6298" Abner and|strong="H1121" Ish Bosheth’s officers|strong="H5650" at|strong="H3427" the|strong="H5921" pool|strong="H1295" of|strong="H1121" Gibeon|strong="H1391". Abner’s group sat|strong="H3427" on|strong="H5921" one|strong="H2088" side|strong="H2088" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H5921" pool|strong="H1295". Joab’s|strong="H3097" group sat|strong="H3427" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" other|strong="H2088" side|strong="H2088".
14 Abner|strong="H0074" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Joab|strong="H3097", “Let’s|strong="H4994" have|strong="H5288" the|strong="H0559" young|strong="H5288" soldiers|strong="H5288" get|strong="H6965" up|strong="H6965" and|strong="H6965" have|strong="H5288" a|strong="H5288" contest|strong="H7832" here.”
15 So|strong="H6965" the|strong="H6965" young|strong="H1121" soldiers|strong="H5650" got|strong="H6965" up|strong="H6965". The|strong="H6965" two|strong="H8147" groups|strong="H1121" counted|strong="H4557" their|strong="H1732" men|strong="H1121" for|strong="H5650" the|strong="H6965" contest. They|strong="H5674" chose twelve|strong="H6240" men|strong="H1121" from|strong="H1121" the|strong="H6965" tribe of|strong="H1121" Benjamin|strong="H1144" to|strong="H5650" fight for|strong="H5650" Ish Bosheth son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Saul|strong="H7586", and|strong="H1121" they|strong="H5674" chose twelve|strong="H6240" men|strong="H1121" from|strong="H1121" David’s|strong="H1732" officers|strong="H5650".
16 Each|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0834" men|strong="H0376" grabbed|strong="H2388" his|strong="H0834" opponent’s|strong="H7453" head|strong="H7218" and|strong="H0376" stabbed him|strong="H7121" in|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0834" side|strong="H6654" with|strong="H0376" his|strong="H0834" sword|strong="H2719", and|strong="H0376" then|strong="H5307" they|strong="H0834" fell|strong="H5307" down|strong="H5307" together|strong="H3162". That|strong="H0834" is|strong="H0834" why|strong="H0834" this|strong="H1931" place|strong="H4725" in|strong="H0376" Gibeon|strong="H1391" is|strong="H0834" called|strong="H7121" “The|strong="H0834" Field of|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0834" Sharp Knives|strong="H2719".”
17 That|strong="H3117" contest turned|strong="H1961" into|strong="H0376" a|strong="H1961" terrible battle|strong="H4421" and|strong="H3478" David’s|strong="H1732" officers|strong="H5650" defeated|strong="H5062" Abner|strong="H0074" and|strong="H3478" the|strong="H6440" Israelites|strong="H3478" that|strong="H3117" day|strong="H3117".
18 Zeruiah|strong="H6870" had|strong="H0834" three|strong="H7969" sons|strong="H1121", Joab|strong="H3097", Abishai|strong="H0052", and|strong="H1121" Asahel|strong="H6214". Asahel|strong="H6214" was|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" fast|strong="H7031" runner, as|strong="H0834" fast|strong="H7031" as|strong="H0834" a|strong="H1961" wild|strong="H7704" deer.
19 Asahel|strong="H6214" ran straight toward|strong="H5921" Abner|strong="H0074" and|strong="H3225" began chasing|strong="H0310" him|strong="H5921".
20 Abner|strong="H0074" looked|strong="H6437" back|strong="H6437" and|strong="H6437" asked|strong="H0559", “Is|strong="H2088" that|strong="H2088" you|strong="H0859", Asahel|strong="H6214"?”
21 Abner|strong="H0074" didn’t|strong="H3808" want|strong="H0014" to|strong="H0559" hurt Asahel|strong="H6214", so|strong="H3947" he|strong="H0310" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" Asahel|strong="H6214", “Stop|strong="H5493" chasing|strong="H0310" me|strong="H5921"—go|strong="H5493" after|strong="H0310" one|strong="H0259" of|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" young|strong="H5288" soldiers|strong="H5288". You|strong="H5921" could|strong="H5288" easily take|strong="H3947" his|strong="H5921" armor for|strong="H5921" yourself|strong="H5921".” But|strong="H3808" Asahel|strong="H6214" refused|strong="H0014" to|strong="H0559" stop|strong="H5493" chasing|strong="H0310" Abner|strong="H0074".
22 Abner|strong="H0074" again|strong="H5750" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Asahel|strong="H6214", “Stop|strong="H5493" chasing|strong="H0310" me|strong="H0413", or|strong="H0776" I|strong="H0776" will|strong="H0776" have|strong="H0776" to|strong="H0413" kill|strong="H5221" you|strong="H6440". Then|strong="H5375" I|strong="H0776" will|strong="H0776" not|strong="H3254" be|strong="H5750" able to|strong="H0413" look|strong="H5375" your|strong="H6440" brother|strong="H0251" Joab|strong="H3097" in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" face|strong="H6440" again|strong="H5750".”
23 But|strong="H1961" Asahel|strong="H6214" refused|strong="H3985" to|strong="H0413" stop|strong="H5975" chasing|strong="H0310" Abner|strong="H0074". So|strong="H1961" Abner|strong="H0074" used|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3605" back|strong="H0310" end|strong="H0310" of|strong="H8478" his|strong="H3605" spear|strong="H2595" and|strong="H0935" pushed it|strong="H8033" into|strong="H0413" Asahel’s|strong="H6214" stomach. The|strong="H3605" spear|strong="H2595" went|strong="H3318" deep into|strong="H0413" Asahel’s|strong="H6214" stomach and|strong="H0935" came|strong="H0935" out|strong="H3318" of|strong="H8478" his|strong="H3605" back|strong="H0310". Asahel|strong="H6214" died|strong="H4191" right|strong="H8478" there|strong="H8033".
24 but|strong="H1992" Joab|strong="H3097" and|strong="H0935" Abishai|strong="H0052" continued chasing|strong="H0310" Abner|strong="H0074". The|strong="H6440" sun|strong="H8121" was|strong="H0834" just|strong="H0834" going|strong="H0935" down|strong="H1870" when|strong="H0834" they|strong="H1992" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" Ammah Hill|strong="H1389". (Ammah Hill|strong="H1389" is|strong="H0834" in|strong="H5921" front|strong="H6440" of|strong="H1870" Giah|strong="H1520" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H6440" way|strong="H1870" to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H6440" desert|strong="H4057" of|strong="H1870" Gibeon|strong="H1391".)
25 The|strong="H5921" men|strong="H1121" from|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" tribe of|strong="H1121" Benjamin|strong="H1144" gathered|strong="H6908" around|strong="H5921" Abner|strong="H0074" at|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" top|strong="H7218" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H5921" hill|strong="H1389".
26 Abner|strong="H0074" shouted|strong="H7121" to|strong="H0413" Joab|strong="H3097" and|strong="H7725" said|strong="H0559", “Must|strong="H3808" we|strong="H3588" fight and|strong="H7725" kill|strong="H2719" each|strong="H5971" other|strong="H0251" forever|strong="H5331"? Surely|strong="H3588" you|strong="H3588" know|strong="H3045" that|strong="H3588" this|strong="H3588" will|strong="H1961" only|strong="H5704" end|strong="H5331" in|strong="H0413" sadness. Tell|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0559" people|strong="H5971" to|strong="H0413" stop|strong="H3808" chasing|strong="H0310" their|strong="H3588" own|strong="H1961" brothers|strong="H0251".”
27 Then|strong="H0227" Joab|strong="H3097" said|strong="H0559", “As|strong="H0376" surely|strong="H3588" as|strong="H0376" God|strong="H0430" is|strong="H0430" alive|strong="H2416", if|strong="H3588" you|strong="H3588" had|strong="H0430" not|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559" something, people|strong="H5971" would|strong="H0559" still|strong="H0559" be|strong="H0376" chasing|strong="H0310" their|strong="H3588" brothers|strong="H0251" in|strong="H0430" the|strong="H0559" morning|strong="H1242".”
28 So|strong="H3808" Joab|strong="H3097" blew|strong="H8628" a|strong="H5750" trumpet|strong="H7782", and|strong="H3478" his|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" stopped|strong="H5975" chasing|strong="H0310" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478". They|strong="H3808" did|strong="H3254" not|strong="H3808" try to|strong="H3478" fight|strong="H3898" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" anymore|strong="H5750".
29 Abner|strong="H0074" and|strong="H1980" his|strong="H3605" men|strong="H0376" marched|strong="H1980" all|strong="H3605" night|strong="H3915" through|strong="H5674" the|strong="H3605" Jordan|strong="H3383" Valley. They|strong="H0376" crossed|strong="H5674" the|strong="H3605" Jordan|strong="H3383" River and|strong="H1980" then|strong="H1980" marched|strong="H1980" all|strong="H3605" day until they|strong="H0376" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" Mahanaim|strong="H4266".
30 Joab|strong="H3097" stopped|strong="H7725" chasing|strong="H0310" Abner|strong="H0074" and|strong="H7725" turned|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725". Joab|strong="H3097" had|strong="H1732" gathered|strong="H6908" his|strong="H3605" men|strong="H0376" and|strong="H7725" learned that|strong="H3605" 19 of|strong="H0376" David’s|strong="H1732" officers|strong="H6485" were|strong="H0376" missing|strong="H6485", including|strong="H3605" Asahel|strong="H6214".
31 But|strong="H0376" David’s|strong="H1732" officers|strong="H5650" had|strong="H1732" killed|strong="H5221" 360 of|strong="H0376" Abner’s|strong="H0074" men|strong="H0376" from|strong="H0376" the|strong="H5221" tribe of|strong="H0376" Benjamin|strong="H1144".
32 David’s officers took|strong="H5375" Asahel|strong="H6214" and|strong="H0376" buried|strong="H6912" him|strong="H0853" in|strong="H6912" the|strong="H3605" tomb|strong="H6913" of|strong="H0376" his|strong="H3605" father|strong="H0001" at|strong="H5375" Bethlehem|strong="H1035".