1Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” “Go up,” the LORD answered. Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To Hebron,” replied the LORD.stylus1 Samuel 23:2, 1 Samuel 30:31, 1 Samuel 23:2, 1 Samuel 30:31, Genesis 32:22So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.stylus1 Samuel 25:42, 1 Samuel 25:43, 1 Samuel 25:42, 1 Samuel 25:43, 1 Samuel 30:53David also took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron.stylus1 Samuel 30:1, 1 Chronicles 12:1, 1 Chronicles 12:7, 1 Samuel 27:2, 1 Samuel 27:34Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.”stylus2 Samuel 5:5, 2 Samuel 5:5, 1 Samuel 31:11, 1 Samuel 31:13, 1 Samuel 31:115So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead to tell them, “The LORD bless you, because you showed this kindness to Saul your lord when you buried him.stylus1 Samuel 23:21, 1 Samuel 23:21, Psalms 115:15, Psalms 115:15, 1 Samuel 24:196Now may the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness, and I will also show you the same favor because you have done this.stylusProverbs 14:22, Proverbs 14:22, Exodus 34:6, Exodus 34:6, Matthew 5:447Now then, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me as their king.”stylus1 Samuel 31:7, Genesis 15:1, 2 Samuel 10:12, 1 Samuel 31:12, 1 Samuel 4:98Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim,stylus1 Samuel 14:50, 1 Samuel 14:50, Genesis 32:2, Genesis 32:2, 1 Samuel 17:559and made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel.stylusPsalms 108:8, Numbers 1:40, Joshua 13:8, Joshua 13:11, Numbers 32:110Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.stylus11And the length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.stylus1 Kings 2:11, 1 Kings 2:11, 2 Samuel 5:4, 2 Samuel 5:5, 2 Samuel 5:412One day Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.stylusJoshua 9:3, Joshua 10:2, Joshua 10:4, Joshua 18:25, Joshua 9:313So Joab son of Zeruiah, along with the servants of David, marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. And the two camps took up positions on opposite sides of the pool.stylus2 Samuel 8:16, 1 Chronicles 2:16, 2 Samuel 8:16, 1 Chronicles 2:16, 2 Samuel 20:2314Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” “Let them get up,” Joab replied.stylus2 Samuel 2:17, 2 Samuel 2:17, 2 Samuel 2:26, 2 Samuel 2:27, Proverbs 20:1815So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David.stylus16Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side, and they all fell together. So this place, which is in Gibeon, is called Helkath-hazzurim.stylus17The battle that day was intense, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David.stylus2 Samuel 3:1, 2 Samuel 3:118The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,stylus1 Chronicles 12:8, 1 Chronicles 12:8, Habakkuk 3:19, Habakkuk 3:19, Psalms 18:3319and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit.stylusProverbs 4:27, 2 Kings 22:2, Joshua 1:7, 2 Samuel 2:21, Joshua 23:620And Abner glanced back and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” “It is,” Asahel replied.stylus21So Abner told him, “Turn to your right or to your left, seize one of the young men, and take his equipment for yourself.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.stylusJudges 14:19, Judges 14:1922Once again, Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?”stylus2 Samuel 3:27, 2 Samuel 3:27, Ecclesiastes 6:10, Proverbs 29:1, 2 Kings 14:1023But Asahel refused to turn away; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into his stomach, and it came out his back, and he fell dead on the spot. And every man paused when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.stylus2 Samuel 3:27, 2 Samuel 3:27, 2 Samuel 4:6, 2 Samuel 4:6, 2 Samuel 20:1024But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.stylus25The Benjamites rallied to Abner, formed a single unit, and took their stand atop a hill.stylus26Then Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?”stylusJeremiah 46:14, Jeremiah 46:14, Jeremiah 46:10, Acts 7:26, Jeremiah 46:1027“As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.”stylus2 Samuel 2:14, Proverbs 17:14, 2 Samuel 2:14, Proverbs 17:14, Proverbs 25:828So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight.stylus29And all that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning, and arrived at Mahanaim.stylus2 Samuel 2:8, 2 Samuel 2:8, Song of Solomon 2:17, Song of Solomon 2:1730When Joab returned from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel, nineteen of David’s servants were missing,stylus31but they had struck down 360 Benjamites who were with Abner.stylus1 Kings 20:11, 2 Samuel 3:1, 1 Kings 20:11, 2 Samuel 3:132Later, they took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.stylus2 Samuel 5:1, 2 Chronicles 21:1, Proverbs 22:29, 1 Samuel 17:58, 1 Chronicles 2:13