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2 Shamu'al 2

2 Shamu'al chapter 2 in the Qadmoni reader. Read the full chapter text with direct verse references and continue into the interactive reader.

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2:1

The Ascent to Chabrun and the Civil War

And it came to pass after this, that Dawid inquired of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, saying, "Shall I go up into any of the cities of Yahudah?" And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 said unto him, "Go up." And Dawid said, "Whither shall I go up?" And he said, "Unto Chabrun."

2:2

So Dawid went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Yizreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.

2:3

And his men that were with him did Dawid bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Chabrun.

2:4

The Anointing of the Scepter Tribe

And the men of Yahudah came, and there they anointed Dawid king over the house of Yahudah. And they told Dawid, saying, "That the men of Yabesh-gilead were they that buried Shaul."

2:5

The Blessing to Yabesh-gilead

And Dawid sent messengers unto the men of Yabesh-gilead, and said unto them, "Blessed be ye of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, that ye have showed this kindness unto your adun, even unto Shaul, and have buried him."

2:6

"And now 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 show kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing."

2:7

"Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your adun Shaul is dead, and also the house of Yahudah have anointed me king over them."

2:8

The Counterfeit Monarchy at Mahanaim

But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Shaul's host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Shaul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

2:9

And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Yizreel, and over Aphrayiym, and over Binyamiyn, and over all Yashar'al.

2:10

Ish-bosheth Shaul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Yashar'al, and reigned two years. But the house of Yahudah followed Dawid.

2:11

And the time that Dawid was king in Chabrun over the house of Yahudah was seven years and six months.

2:12

The Clash at the Pool of Gibeon

And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Shaul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

2:13

And Yoab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of Dawid, went out, and met together 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.

2:14

And Abner said to Yoab, "Let the young men now arise, and play before us." And Yoab said, "Let them arise."

2:15

The Field of Strong Men (Helkath-hazzurim)

Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Binyamiyn, which pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Shaul, and twelve of the servants of Dawid.

2:16

And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

2:17

The Defeat of Abner

And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Yashar'al, before the servants of Dawid.

2:18

The Pursuit of Asahel

And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Yoab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

2:19

And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

2:20

Then Abner looked behind him, and said, "Art thou Asahel?" And he answered, "I am."

2:21

And Abner said 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 armor." But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.

2:22

And Abner said again 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 Yoab thy brother?"

2:23

The Death of Asahel

Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind 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.

2:24

The Retreat to Ammah

Yoab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

2:25

And the children of Binyamiyn gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of a hill.

2:26

The Truce of Yoab and Abner

Then Abner called to Yoab, and said, "Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?"

2:27

And Yoab said, "As Alahiym liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother."

2:28

So Yoab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Yashar'al no more, neither fought they any more.

2:29

The Return to the Bases

And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Yardan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.

2:30

And Yoab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of Dawid's servants nineteen men and Asahel.

2:31

But the servants of Dawid had smitten of Binyamiyn, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.

2:32

And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulcher of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Yoab and his men went all night, and they came to Chabrun at break of day.