2 Samuel 2

All 32 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1After this, David asked the LORD, "Should I go to one of the cities of Judah?" The LORD told him, "Yes, go." David asked, "Which one?" The LORD answered, "Hebron."
2. 2So David went there, along with his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the wife of Nabal from Carmel.
3. 3David also brought all the men who had been with him, each with his family. They settled in the towns around Hebron.
4. 4The men of Judah came and anointed David king over the house of Judah. They informed David that the men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.
5. 5He sent messengers to them with this message: "May the LORD bless you for showing this kindness to your master Saul by burying him."
6. 6May the LORD show you kindness and truth. I also will repay you with kindness because of what you've done.
7. 7Now be strong and courageous, for your master Saul is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me as their king.
8. 8Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul's army, had taken Saul's son Ishbosheth and brought him to Mahanaim.
9. 9There he made Ishbosheth king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all Israel.
10. 10Ishbosheth, son of Saul, was 40 years old when he became king over Israel, and he ruled for 2 years. But the house of Judah followed David.
11. 11David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah for seven years and six months.
12. 12Abner son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
13. 13Joab son of Zeruiah and David's soldiers also marched out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. The 2 groups sat down facing each other on opposite sides of the pool.
14. 14Abner said to Joab, "Now let the young men get up and play before us." Joab said, "Let them get up."
15. 15So 12 men stepped forward from Benjamin's side, fighting for Ishbosheth son of Saul, and 12 from David's side.
16. 16Each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent's side, so they fell down together. That place in Gibeon was called Helkathhazzurim.
17. 17There was a very intense battle that day; and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by David's servants.
18. 18The 3 sons of Zeruiah were there — Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as fast on his feet as a wild gazelle.
19. 19Asahel chased after Abner, running straight after him without veering right or left.
20. 20Abner glanced back and called out, "Is that you, Asahel?" He answered, "It is."
21. 21Abner told him, 'Turn aside to your right or left, and grab hold of one of the young men and take his armor.' But Asahel refused to stop chasing him.
22. 22Abner warned him again, "Stop chasing me! Why should I have to kill you? How could I ever face your brother Joab again?"
23. 23But Asahel refused to turn aside, so Abner struck him under the fifth rib with the butt end of his spear, and the spear came out behind him. Asahel fell down and died on the spot, and everyone who came to the place where he fell and died stood still.
24. 24But Joab and Abishai kept pursuing Abner. By sunset they had reached the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the road to the wilderness of Gibeon.
25. 25The men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner, forming a single unit and taking a stand on top of a hill.
26. 26Abner called to Joab and said, "Must the sword keep devouring forever? Don't you know it will end in bitterness? How long before you tell the people to stop pursuing their brothers?"
27. 27Joab replied, "As God lives, if you hadn't spoken up, my men would have kept chasing their brothers until morning."
28. 28So Joab blew the trumpet, and all his men halted. They stopped pursuing Israel and the fighting ended.
29. 29Abner and his men marched through the Arabah all night long, crossed the Jordan, traveled through all of Bithron, and finally reached Mahanaim.
30. 30Joab called off the pursuit of Abner and gathered all his troops. When he counted them, 19 of David's soldiers were missing, plus Asahel.
31. 31David's soldiers, however, had killed 360 of Abner's men from Benjamin.
32. 32They carried Asahel's body back and buried him in his father's tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched through the night and reached Hebron at daybreak.