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Journey Through the Bible

2 Samuel 2:8-32

8 War Between the Houses of David and Saul
Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.

9 He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.

10 Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.

11 The length of time David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

12 Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon.

13 Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side.

14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us.”
“All right, let them do it,” Joab said.

15 So they stood up and were counted off—twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David.

16 Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent’s side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.

17 The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by David’s men.

18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle.

19 He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him.

20 Abner looked behind him and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?”
“It is,” he answered.

21 Then Abner said to him, “Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.

22 Again Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?”

23 But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.

24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon.

25 Then the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill.

26 Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their brothers?”

27 Joab answered, “As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued the pursuit of their brothers until morning.”

28 So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men came to a halt; they no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore.

29 All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, continued through the whole Bithron and came to Mahanaim.

30 Then Joab returned from pursuing Abner and assembled all his men. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David’s men were found missing.

31 But David’s men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner.

32 They took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.

Cross References for 2 Samuel 2:8-32

Genesis 32:2 - When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim. Click to read the verse Genesis 32:2 Click to read the verse Genesis 32:2

2 Samuel 17:24 - David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 17:24 Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 17:24

2 Samuel 17:26-27 - The Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead. Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 17:26-27 Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 17:26-27

1 Kings 4:14 - Ahinadab son of Iddo—in Mahanaim; Click to read the verse 1 Kings 4:14 Click to read the verse 1 Kings 4:14

1 Samuel 17:55 - As Saul watched David going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army... Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 17:55 Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 17:55

Psalms 108:8 - Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter. Click to read the verse Psalms 108:8 Click to read the verse Psalms 108:8

Joshua 13:26 - and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir; Click to read the verse Joshua 13:26 Click to read the verse Joshua 13:26

1 Samuel 14:50 - His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of Saul’s army was A... Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 14:50 Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 14:50

1 Chronicles 9:39 - Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shu... Click to read the verse 1 Chronicles 9:39 Click to read the verse 1 Chronicles 9:39

1 Chronicles 8:33 - Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shu... Click to read the verse 1 Chronicles 8:33 Click to read the verse 1 Chronicles 8:33

2 Samuel 3:7-8 - Now Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why... Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 3:7-8 Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 3:7-8

2 Samuel 4:5-6 - Now Recab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth, ... Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 4:5-6 Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 4:5-6

1 Samuel 26:14 - He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?” Abne... Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 26:14 Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 26:14

2 Samuel 2:29 - All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, continued... Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 2:29 Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 2:29

2 Samuel 3:38 - Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realize that a prince and a great man has fallen in ... Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 3:38 Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 3:38

2 Samuel 4:5 - Now Recab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth, ... Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 4:5 Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 4:5