Después de esto sucedió que David consultó al SEÑOR^a, diciendo: ¿Subiré a alguna de las ciudades de Judá? Y el SEÑOR le dijo: Sube. Y David dijo: ¿Adónde subiré? Y Él dijo: A Hebrón^b. 2 Entonces David subió allá, y también sus dos mujeres, Ahinoam jezreelita y Abigail^a, viuda¹ de Nabal, el de Carmel. 3 Y trajo David a los hombres que estaban con él, cada uno con su familia^a; y habitaron en las ciudades de Hebrón. 4 Vinieron los hombres de Judá y ungieron allí a David como rey sobre la casa de Judá^a.

Y avisaron a David, diciendo: Fueron los hombres de Jabes de Galaad los que sepultaron a Saúl^b. 5 Y David envió mensajeros a los hombres de Jabes de Galaad, a decirles: Benditos seáis del SEÑOR, porque habéis mostrado¹ esta bondad a Saúl vuestro señor^a, y lo habéis sepultado. 6 Ahora, que el SEÑOR os muestre¹ misericordia y verdad^a; y yo también os haré bien por esto que habéis hecho. 7 Fortaleced, pues, vuestras manos, y sed valientes¹ porque Saúl vuestro señor ha muerto, y² la casa de Judá me ha ungido rey sobre ellos.

8 Pero Abner, hijo de Ner^a, comandante del ejército de Saúl, había tomado a Is-boset¹, hijo de Saúl, y lo llevó a Mahanaim^b. 9 Y le hizo rey sobre Galaad^a, sobre Gesuri^1b, sobre Jezreel^c, sobre Efraín, sobre Benjamín y sobre todo Israel. 10 Is-boset, hijo de Saúl, tenía cuarenta años cuando comenzó a reinar sobre Israel, y reinó dos años. La casa de Judá, sin embargo, siguió a David. 11 El tiempo¹ que David reinó en Hebrón sobre la casa de Judá fue siete años y seis meses^a.

12 Abner, hijo de Ner, salió de Mahanaim a Gabaón^a con los siervos de Is-boset, hijo de Saúl. 13 Y Joab, hijo de Sarvia^a, y los siervos de David salieron y los encontraron¹ junto al estanque de Gabaón; y se sentaron, unos a un² lado del estanque y los otros al otro lado³. 14 Entonces Abner^a dijo a Joab: Que se levanten ahora los jóvenes y compitan¹ delante de nosotros. Y Joab respondió: Que se levanten. 15 Se levantaron y pasaron en igual número, doce por Benjamín e Is-boset, hijo de Saúl, y doce de los siervos de David. 16 Y cada uno asió a su adversario¹ por la cabeza, y metió su espada en el costado del adversario² de manera que cayeron juntos. Por eso aquel lugar fue llamado Helcat-hazurim³, el cual está en Gabaón. 17 Aquel día la batalla fue muy reñida, y Abner y los hombres de Israel fueron derrotados delante de los siervos de David^a.

18 Estaban allí los tres hijos de Sarvia: Joab, Abisai y Asael^a. Y Asael era tan ligero de pies como una gacela del campo^b. 19 Y persiguió Asael a Abner, y no se desvió¹ ni a derecha ni a izquierda de ir tras Abner. 20 Y miró atrás Abner, y dijo: ¿Eres tú Asael? Y él respondió: Yo soy. 21 Abner le dijo: Desvíate a tu derecha o a tu izquierda, apodérate de uno de los jóvenes y toma para ti sus despojos. Pero Asael no quería dejar de perseguirlo. 22 Volvió a decir Abner a Asael: Deja de perseguirme. ¿Por qué he de derribarte en tierra? ¿Cómo podría entonces levantar mi rostro ante tu hermano Joab^a? 23 Pero él rehusó apartarse; por tanto, Abner lo hirió en el estómago con el regatón de la lanza, y la lanza le salió por la espalda; allí cayó, y allí mismo murió. Y sucedió que todos los que venían al lugar donde Asael había caído y muerto, se detenían^a.

24 Joab y Abisai persiguieron a Abner, y cuando el sol se ponía, llegaron a la colina de Amma, que está frente a Gía junto al camino del desierto de Gabaón. 25 Los hijos de Benjamín se agruparon detrás de Abner formando una sola banda, y se detuvieron en la cumbre de una colina. 26 Abner llamó a Joab, y dijo: ¿Devorará la espada para siempre? ¿No sabes que el final será amargo? ¿Hasta cuándo esperarás para decirles¹ que se vuelvan de perseguir a sus hermanos? 27 Respondió Joab: Vive Dios, que si no hubieras hablado, ciertamente el pueblo no se hubiera ido hasta la mañana después de perseguir cada cual a su hermano. 28 Entonces Joab tocó la trompeta y todo el pueblo se detuvo; no persiguieron más a Israel ni continuaron peleando más^a. 29 Abner y sus hombres marcharon toda aquella noche por el Arabá, cruzaron el Jordán, y caminando toda la mañana¹, llegaron a Mahanaim^a.

30 Joab volvió también de perseguir a Abner, y cuando reunió a todo el pueblo, faltaban de los siervos de David, diecinueve hombres, además de Asael. 31 Pero los siervos de David habían herido de Benjamín y de los hombres de Abner, a trescientos sesenta hombres, los cuales murieron. 32 Se llevaron a Asael y lo sepultaron en el sepulcro de su padre, que estaba en Belén. Joab y sus hombres caminaron toda la noche hasta que les amaneció¹ en Hebrón^a.

Then it came about afterward that ^aDavid inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” So David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “^bTo Hebron.” 2 So David went up there, and ^ahis two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the ¹widow of Nabal the Carmelite. 3 And ^aDavid brought up his men who were with him, each with his household; and they settled in the cities of Hebron. 4 Then the men of Judah came, and there they ^aanointed David king over the house of Judah.

And they told David, saying, “It was ^bthe men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.” 5 So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, “^aMay you be blessed of the LORD because you have ¹shown this kindness to Saul your lord, and have buried him. 6 And now ^amay the LORD ¹show kindness and truth to you; and I also will ²show this goodness to you, because you have done this thing. 7 Now then, let your hands be strong and be ¹valiant, since Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

8 But ^aAbner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, had taken ¹Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to ^bMahanaim. 9 And he made him king over ^aGilead, over the ^bAshurites, over ^cJezreel, over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, even over all Israel. 10 Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he was king for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David. 11 And ^athe ¹time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

12 Now Abner the son of Ner, went from Mahanaim to ^aGibeon with the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul. 13 And ^aJoab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met ¹them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, ²Abner’s men on the one side of the pool and ³Joab’s men on the other side of the pool. 14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Now have the young men arise and ^ahold a martial skills match in our presence.” And Joab said, “Have them arise!” 15 So they got up and went over by count, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David. 16 And each one of them seized his ¹opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his ²opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called ³Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. 17 That day the battle was very severe, and ^aAbner and the men of Israel were defeated ¹by the servants of David.

18 Now ^athe three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel; and Asahel was ^bas ¹swift-footed as one of the gazelles that is in the field. 19 Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn ¹to the right or to the left from following Abner. 20 Then Abner looked behind himself and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” And he said, “It is I!” 21 So Abner said to him, “Turn aside for your own good to your right or to your left, and take hold of one of the young men for yourself, and take for yourself his equipment.” But Asahel was unwilling to turn aside from following him. 22 Then Abner repeated again to Asahel, “Turn aside for your own good from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? ^aHow then could I ¹show my face to your brother Joab?” 23 However, he refused to turn aside; so Abner struck him in the belly with the butt end of the spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died on the spot. And it happened that all who came thereafter to the place where ^aAsahel had fallen and died, stood still.

24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and when the sun was going down, they came to the hill of Ammah, which is opposite Giah by way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 And the sons of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one troop, and they stood on the top of a hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Should the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that it will be bitter in the end? So how long will you ¹refrain from telling the people to turn back from pursuing their kinsmen?” 27 Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, then the people of Judah certainly would have withdrawn in the morning, each from pursuing his brother.” 28 So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the people halted and no longer pursued Israel, ^anor did they continue to fight anymore. 29 Abner and his men then went through the Arabah all that night; so they crossed the Jordan, walked all morning, and came to ^aMahanaim.

30 Then Joab returned from pursuing Abner; but he gathered all the people together, and ¹nineteen of David’s servants were missing, besides Asahel. 31 However, the servants of David had struck and killed many of Benjamin and Abner’s men; 360 men were dead. 32 And they carried Asahel away and buried him ^ain his father’s tomb, which was in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men traveled all night until the day ¹dawned at Hebron.

Then it came about afterwards that ^aDavid inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” So David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “^bTo Hebron.” 2 So David went up there, and ^ahis two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the ¹widow of Nabal the Carmelite. 3 And ^aDavid brought up his men who were with him, each with his household; and they lived in the cities of Hebron. 4 Then the men of Judah came and there ^aanointed David king over the house of Judah.

And they told David, saying, “It was ^bthe men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.” 5 David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, “^aMay you be blessed of the LORD because you have ¹shown this kindness to Saul your lord, and have buried him. 6 Now ^amay the LORD ¹show lovingkindness and truth to you; and I also will ²show this goodness to you, because you have done this thing. 7 Now therefore, let your hands be strong and be ¹valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

8 But ^aAbner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, had taken ¹Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to ^bMahanaim. 9 He made him king over ^aGilead, over the ^bAshurites, over ^cJezreel, over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, even over all Israel. 10 Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he was king for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David. 11 ^aThe ¹time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

12 Now Abner the son of Ner, went out from Mahanaim to ^aGibeon with the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul. 13 And ^aJoab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met ¹them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, ²one on the one side of the pool and ³the other on the other side of the pool. 14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Now let the young men arise and ^1ahold a contest before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.” 15 So they arose and went over by count, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16 Each one of them seized his ¹opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his ²opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called ³Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. 17 That day the battle was very severe, and ^aAbner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.

18 Now ^athe three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel; and Asahel was ^bas ¹swift-footed as one of the gazelles which is in the field. 19 Asahel pursued Abner and did not ¹turn to the right or to the left from following Abner. 20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” And he answered, “It is I.” 21 So Abner said to him, “¹Turn to your right or to your left, and take hold of one of the young men for yourself, and take for yourself his spoil.” But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him. 22 Abner repeated again to Asahel, “Turn ¹aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? ^aHow then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?” 23 However, he refused to turn aside; therefore Abner struck him in the belly with the butt end of the spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died on the spot. And it came about that all who came to the place where ^aAsahel had fallen and died, stood still.

24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and when the sun was going down, they came to the hill of Ammah, which is in front of Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 The sons of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one band, and they stood on the top of a certain hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long will you ¹refrain from telling the people to turn back from following their brothers?” 27 Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then the people would have gone away in the morning, each from following his brother.” 28 So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people halted and pursued Israel no longer, ^anor did they continue to fight anymore. 29 Abner and his men then went through the Arabah all that night; so they crossed the Jordan, walked all morning, and came to ^aMahanaim.

30 Then Joab returned from following Abner; when he had gathered all the people together, ¹nineteen of David’s servants besides Asahel were missing. 31 But the servants of David had struck down many of Benjamin and Abner’s men, so that three hundred and sixty men died. 32 And they took up Asahel and buried him ^ain his father’s tomb which was in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men went all night until the day ¹dawned at Hebron.