2nd Shamu'AL (2 Samuel) — 2
Daud Anointed King of Yahudah
2 After this, Daud asked 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, “Should I move back to one of the towns of Yahudah? “Yes,”And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH said to him, Yes, "Then Daud asked, “Which town should I go to?” 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH said. Go to Habrun
2 So Daud left for Habrun with his two wives Ahinuam from Yazraal and Abigail the widow of Nabal from Carmel.
3 and his men and their families all moved to Yahudah, and they settled in the villages near Habrun.
4 Then the men of Yahudah came to Daud and anointed him king over the people of Yahudah. When Daud heard that the men of Yabash-gilaad had buried Shaul,
5 he sent them this message: “May 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH barak you for being so loyal to your master Shaul and giving him a decent burial.
6 May 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH reward you in return with His unfailing love! And I, too, will reward you for what you have done.
7 Now that Shaul is dead, I ask you to be my strong and loyal subjects like the people of Yahudah, who have anointed me as their new king.”
Ishbushath Proclaimed King of Yashar'AL
8 But Abner son of Nar, the commander of Shaul’s army, had already gone to Mahanaim with Shaul’s son Ishbushath.
9 There he proclaimed Ishbushath king over Gilaad, Yazraal, Aphraim, Banyamin, the land of the Ashurites, and all the rest of Yashar'AL.
10 Ishbushath, Shaul’s son, was forty years old when he became king, and he ruled from Mahanaim for two years. Meanwhile, the people of Yahudah remained loyal to Daud.
11 Daud made Habrun his capital, and he ruled as king of Yahudah for seven and a half years.
War between Yashar'AL and Yahudah
12 One day Abnar led Ishbushath’s troops from Mahanaim to Gibaun.
13 About the same time, Yuab son of Zaruiah led Daud’s troops out and met them at the pool of Gibaun. The two groups sat down there, facing each other from opposite sides of the pool.
14 Then Abnar suggested to Yuab, “Let’s have a few of our warriors fight hand to hand here in front of us.” All right,” Yuab agreed.
15 So twelve men were chosen to fight from each side—twelve men of Banyamin representing Ishbushath son of Shaul, and twelve representing Daud.
16 Each one grabbed his opponent by the hair and thrust his sword into the other’s side so that all of them died. So this place at Gibaun has been known ever since as the Field of Swords.
17 A fierce battle followed that day, and Abner and the men of Yashar'AL were defeated by the forces of Daud.
The Death of Asahal
18 Yuab, Abishai, and Asahal, the three sons of Zaruyahu were among Daud’s forces that day. Asahal could run like a gazelle,
19 and he began chasing Abnar, he pursued him relentlessly, not stopping for anything.
20 When Abnar looked back and saw him coming, he called out, “Is that you, Asahal?” he replied “Yes, it is,”
21 “Go fight someone else!” Abnar warned. “Take on one of the younger men, and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahal kept right on chasing Abnar.
22 Again Abnar shouted to him, “Get away from here! I don’t want to kill you. How could I ever face your brother Yuab again?”
23 But Asahal refused to turn back, so Abnar thrust the butt end of his spear through Asahal’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He stumbled to the ground and died there. And everyone who came by that spot stopped and stood still when they saw Asahal lying there.
24 When Yuab and Abishai found out what had happened, they set out after Abnar. The sun was just going down as they arrived at the hill of Ammah near Giah, along the road to the wilderness of Gibaun.
25 Abnar’s troops from the tribe of Banyamin regrouped there at the top of the hill to take a stand.
26 Abnar shouted down to Yuab, “Must we always be killing each other? Do you not realize that bitterness is the only result? When will you call off your men from chasing their Yasharalym brothers?”
27 Then Yuab said, “𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH only knows what would have happened if you had not spoken, for we would have chased you all night if necessary.”
28 So Yuab blew the ram’s horn, and his men stopped chasing the troops of Yashar'AL.
29 All that night Abnar and his men retreated through the Yurdan Valley. They crossed the Yurdan River, traveling all through the morning, and did not stop until they arrived at Mahanaim.
30 Meanwhile, Yuab and his men also returned home. When Yuab counted his casualties, he discovered that only nineteen men were missing in addition to Asahal.
31 But three hundred and sixty of Abner’s men had been killed, all from the tribe of Banyamin.
32 Yuab and his men took Asahal’s body to Bathlaham and buried him there in his father’s tomb. Then they traveled all night and reached Habrun at daybreak.