1
And it came to pass after this, that Davidenquired of the LORD,saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORDsaid unto him, Go up. And Davidsaid, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.
4
And the men of Judahcame, and there they anointedDavidking over the house of Judah. And they toldDavid,saying, That the men of Jabeshgileadwere they that buriedSaul.
5
And Davidsentmessengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead*, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.
7
Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant*: for your masterSaul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.
13
And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and mettogether by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.
16
And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow'sside; so they fell downtogether: wherefore that place was calledHelkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
21
And Abnersaid to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahelwould not turn aside from following of him.
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And Abnersaidagain to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?
23
Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spearsmote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came outbehind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
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Joab also and AbishaipursuedafterAbner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth beforeGiah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
26
Then Abnercalled to Joab, and said, Shall the sworddevour for ever?knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the peoplereturn from following their brethren?
32
And they took upAsahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his menwent all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.