1 Então David perguntou ao Senhor: "Deverei voltar para Judá?" O Senhor respondeu-lhe: "Sim." Perguntou ainda: "Para que cidade devo ir?" E o Senhor respondeu: "Para Hebrom."

2 David e as suas mulheres, Ainoã de Jezreel e Abigail, a viúva de Nabal do Carmelo, 3 mais os seus homens com as respetivas famílias, mudaram-se para Hebrom. 4 Os líderes de Judá vieram dar-lhe as boas vindas e consagraram-no rei sobre o povo de Judá.

Ao saber que os homens de Jabes-Gileade tinham tido o cuidado de fazer o enterro de Saul, 5 mandou-lhes uma mensagem: "Que o Senhor vos abençoe por terem honrado dessa maneira a memória do vosso rei, fazendo-lhe um funeral digno. 6 Que o Senhor vos trate com bondade e fidelidade! Eu também vos retribuirei o bem que praticaram. 7 Agora peço-vos que aceitem ser meus fortes e fiéis súbditos, visto que Saul já está morto. A tribo de Judá também já me designou como seu rei."

8 No entanto Abner, comandante das tropas de Saul, foi a Maanaim para fazer de Isbosete rei. 9 O seu território era Gileade, Asuri, Jezreel, Efraim, a tribo de Benjamim e o restante Israel. 10 Isbosete tinha 40 anos nessa altura. Reinou em Israel durante dois anos. Mas a tribo de Judá manteve-se leal a David. 11 Entretanto, David reinava em Hebrom. Durante sete anos e meio foi rei do povo de Judá.

12 Um dia, o general Abner levou as tropas de Isbosete de Maanaim até Gibeão. 13 Joabe, filho de Zeruía, general de David, levou as suas tropas ao encontro das primeiras. Ficaram frente a frente junto ao poço de Gibeão, uns do lado de cá e os outros do lado oposto. 14 Abner sugeriu a Joabe o seguinte: "Vamos pôr alguns dos nossos moços a defrontarem-se à espada diante de nós!" E Joabe acedeu. 15 Foram escolhidos doze combatentes de cada lado para se confrontarem mortalmente.

16 O combate começou e cada um, pegando na cabeça do outro, enfiou-lhe a espada no corpo, acabando todos por morrer assim. Aquele lugar ficou conhecido como o Campo das Espadas.

17 Os dois exércitos começaram então a luta. No final do dia, Abner e os seus homens tinham sido derrotados por Joabe. 18 Abisai e Asael, irmãos de Joabe, também se encontravam na batalha. Asael era um grande corredor; corria como uma gazela. 19 Este foi em perseguição de Abner, correndo sem descanso, absolutamente determinado a apanhá-lo. 20 A certa altura, Abner olhou para trás, viu-o e perguntou-lhe: "Tu és Asael?" Ao que lhe respondeu: "Sim, sou!"

21 "Aviso-te que não venhas atrás de mim. Vai antes em perseguição dum soldado qualquer e fica com os despojos." Mas Asael não desistiu e continuou no seu encalço.

22 Abner tornou a gritar-lhe: "Sai de trás de mim! Eu nunca mais poderia aparecer ao teu irmão Joabe, se te matasse!"

23 Asael recusou-se a desistir. Então Abner trespassou-lhe o ventre com a extremidade mais grossa da sua lança que lhe saiu do outro lado. Asael ficou ali estendido e toda a gente que passava parava para ver o corpo morto.

24 Joabe e Abisai puseram-se, por sua vez, em perseguição de Abner. Estava já o Sol a pôr-se quando chegaram ao outeiro de Amá, em frente de Giá, no caminho para o deserto de Gibeão. 25 As tropas de Abner, formadas por contingentes de soldados de Benjamim, reagruparam-se no cimo da colina. 26 Dali Abner gritou para Joabe no vale: "Será que as nossas tropas hão de continuar a matar-se umas às outras? Quando é que pensas dizer à tua gente que deixe de perseguir os irmãos?"

27 "Garanto-te, diante de Deus, que mesmo que não tivesses falado, os homens teriam continuado a persergui-los até a manhã nascer", respondeu-lhe Joabe. 28 Tocou a trombeta e os seus homens pararam de correr atrás das tropas de Israel.

29 Nessa noite, Abner e os seus soldados retiraram-se através da planície do Jordão. Atravessaram o rio, caminharam durante toda a manhã seguinte, até que chegaram a Maanaim.

30 As tropas de Joabe também se retiraram para a sua terra. Quando contaram as baixas verificaram que tinham perdido apenas 19 homens, além de Asael. 31 Da parte de Abner tinha havido 360 perdas, todas da tribo de Benjamim. 32 Os soldados de Joabe levaram o corpo de Asael para Belém e enterraram-no na sepultura do seu pai. Depois marcharam toda a noite e chegaram a Hebrom ao romper do dia.

1 And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron. 2 So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite. 3 And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. 4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.

5 And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, 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. 6 And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing. 7 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.*2.7 be ye…: Heb. be ye the sons of valour

8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;*2.8 Saul’s host: Heb. the host which was Saul’s*2.8 Ish-bosheth: or, Esh-baal 9 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10 Ish-bosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.*2.11 time: Heb. number of days

12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, 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.*2.13 together: Heb. them together 14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. 15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 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.*2.16 Helkath-hazzurim: that is, The field of strong men 17 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

18 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.*2.18 of foot: Heb. of his feet*2.18 as a wild…: Heb. as one of the roes that is in the field 19 And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.*2.19 from…: Heb. from after Abner 20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am. 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 armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.*2.21 armour: or, spoil 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 Joab thy brother? 23 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. 24 Joab 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.

25 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab, 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? 27 And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.*2.27 in the…: Heb. from the morning*2.27 gone…: or, gone away 28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more. 29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim. 30 And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel. 31 But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.

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