2 Samuel 2:12-32 - War Between Judah And Israel

¹² One time Abner and the soldiers of Ishbosheth left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. ¹³ At that time Joab the son of Zeruiah was leading David's soldiers. The two groups met at the pool in Gibeon. Abner and his men sat down on one side of the pool and Joab and his men sat on the other side.

¹⁴ Abner yelled to Joab: Let some of our best soldiers get up and fight each other! Joab agreed.

¹⁵ Twelve of Ishbosheth's men from the tribe of Benjamin got up to fight twelve of David's men. ¹⁶ Each one grabbed his opponent by the head. Then he stuck his sword into his opponent's side, and they fell down together. That place in Gibeon is called the Field of Enemies.

¹⁷ Fierce fighting broke out that day. In the end, David's men defeated Abner and the men of Israel. ¹⁸ Zeruiah's three sons were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as fast on his feet as a wild gazelle. ¹⁹ So Asahel started chasing Abner. He ran straight for him. ²⁰ Abner looked behind and asked: Are you Asahel? He answered: I am.

²¹ Abner said: Soldiers are all around us. Stop chasing me and fight one of them! Kill him and take his clothes and weapons for yourself. But Asahel refused to stop. ²² Abner spoke again to Asahel: If you do not turn back, I will have to kill you! Then I could never face your brother Joab again.

²³ However, 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. ²⁴ Joab and Abishai ran after Abner. It was sun down when they arrived at the hill of Ammah. This hill is near Giah on the road to the wilderness of Gibeon.

²⁵ The men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They became united as one and stood on the top of a hill. ²⁶ Then Abner called to Joab: Must the sword devour forever? Do you not understand it will be bitter to the end? How long before you command the people to return from chasing their brothers?

²⁷ Joab said: As God lives; if you had not spoken the men would have continued following their brothers. ²⁸ So Joab blew a ram's horn and all the troops stopped. They did not chase or fight Israel anymore. ²⁹ That night Abner and his men marched through the plains. They crossed the Jordan River and passed through the entire Bithron until they came to Mahanaim.

³⁰ Joab returned from chasing Abner. He gathered the troops. Nineteen of David's officers and Asahel were missing. ³¹ David's men killed three hundred and sixty of the men of Benjamin under Abner's command. ³² They buried Asahel in his father's tomb in Bethlehem. Joab and his men marched all night. They arrived at Hebron at daybreak.

⁸ Blow the horn in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: sound an alarm at Bethaven behind you, O Benjamin. ⁹ Ephraim will become desolation in the day of rebuke among the tribes of Israel. I made known that which will surely be. ¹⁰ The princes of Judah are like them that remove the landmark. I will pour my wrath upon them like water. ¹¹ Ephraim is oppressed. He is crushed in judgment because he was content to walk after man's command. ¹² I am like a moth to Ephraim and to the house of Judah as rottenness. ¹³ When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, Ephraim went to Assyria and sent to King Jareb. He is not able to heal you, neither will he cure you of your wound. ¹⁴ For I will be to Ephraim as a lion. And I will be like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear and go away. I will carry off and there will be none to deliver. ¹⁵ I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek me. They will seek me earnestly in their affliction.