1 Therefore after these things David consulted our Lord, saying: Shall I go up into one of the cities of Juda? And our Lord said to him: Go up, And David said: Whither shall I go up? And he answered him: Into Hebron.
1 And after these things David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go up into one of the cities of Juda? And the Lord said to him: Go up. And David said: Whither shall I go up? And he answered him: Into Hebron.
2 David therefore went up, and his two wives, Achinoam the Jezrahelite, and Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel:
2 So David went up, and his two wives Achinoam the Jezrahelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel:
3 yea and the men also that were with him, David brought every one with his household: and they abode in the towns of Hebron.
3 And the men also that were with him, David brought up every man with his household: and they abode in the towns of Hebron.
4 And the men of Juda came, and anointed David there, to reign over the house of Juda. And it was told David, that the men of Jabes Galaad had buried Saul.
4 ¹And the men of Juda came, and anointed David there, to be king over the house of Juda. And it was told David that the men of Jabes Galaad had buried Saul.
5 David therefore sent messengers unto the men of Jabes Galaad, and said unto them: Blessed be you to our Lord, which have done this mercy with your lord Saul, and have buried him.
5 David therefore sent messengers to the men of Jabes Galaad, and said to them: Blessed be you to the Lord, who have shown this mercy to your master Saul, and have buried him.
6 And now our Lord certes will render you mercy and truth: but I also will requite you the good turn, for that you have done this thing.
6 And now the Lord surely will render you mercy and truth, and I also will requite you for this good turn, because you have done this thing.
7 Let your hands be strengthened, and be ye stout men: for although your lord Saul be dead, yet the house of Juda hath anointed me to be their king.
7 Let your hands be strengthened, and be ye men of valor: for although your master Saul be dead, yet the house of Juda hath anointed me to be their king.
8 But Abner the son of Ner Prince of Saul's army, took Isboseth the son of Saul, and led him about through the camp,
8 But Abner the son of Ner, general of Saul’s army, took Isboseth the son of Saul, and led him about through the camp,
9 and ordained him king over Galaad, & over Gessuri, & over Jezrahel, & over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
9 And made him king over Galaad, and over Gessuri, and over Jezrahel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
10 Forty years old was Isboseth the son of Saul when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years: and only the house of Juda followed David.
10 Isboseth the son of Saul was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years; and only the house of Juda followed David.
11 And the number of the days, that David abode, reigning in Hebron over the house of Juda, was seven years and six months.
11 And the number of the days that David abode, reigning in Hebron over the house of Juda, was seven years and six months.
12 And Abner the son of Ner went forth, and the servants of Isboseth the son of Saul, out of the camp into Gabaon.
12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Isboseth the son of Saul, went out from the camp to Gabaon.
13 Moreover Joab the son of Sarvia, and the servants of David went forth, and met them beside the people of Gabaon, and when they were come together into one place, they sat one over-against another: these on the one side of the pool, and they on the other.
13 And Joab the son of Sarvia, and the servants of David went out, and met them by the pool of Gabaon. And when they were come together, they sat down over against one another: the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side.
14 And Abner said to Joab: Let the young men rise, and play before us. And Joab answered: Let them rise.
14 And Abner said to Joab: Let the young men rise, and play before us. And Joab answered: Let them rise.
15 There rose therefore and passed twelve in number, of Benjamin, of Isboseth's part the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
15 Then there arose and went over twelve in number of Benjamin, of the part of Isboseth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
16 And every one taking the head of his mate, sticked his sword into the side of his adversary, and they fell together: and the name of the place was called: The field of the valiants, in Gabaon.
16 And everyone catching his fellow by the head, thrust his sword into the side of his adversary, and they fell down together: and the name of the place was called: The field of the valiant, in Gabaon.
17 And there rose a very sore battle in that day: & Abner was put to flight, and the men of Israel, by the servants of David.
17 And there was a very fierce battle that day: and Abner was put to flight, with the men of Israel, by the servants of David.
18 And there were there the three sons of Sarvia, Joab, and Abisai, & Asael: moreover Asael was a most swift runner, as it were one of the roes, that abide in the woods.
18 And there were the three sons of Sarvia there, Joab, and Abisai, and Asael: now Asael was a most swift runner, like one of the roes that abide in the woods.
19 And Asael pursued Abner, and declined not to the right hand nor to the left omitting to pursue Abner.
19 And Asael pursued after Abner, and turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
20 Abner therefore looked back behind him, and said: Art thou Asael? Who answered: I am.
20 And Abner looked behind him, and said: Art thou Asael? And he answered: I am.
21 And Abner said to him: Go to the right hand, or to the left, and apprehend one of the young men, and take to thee his spoils. But Asael would not leave but urged him.
21 And Abner said to him: Go to the right hand or to the left, and lay hold on one of the young men and take thee his spoils. But Asael would not leave off following him close.
22 And again Abner said to Asael: Retire, and do not follow me, lest I be compelled to stick thee to the ground, and I shall not be able to lift up my face to Joab thy brother.
22 And again Abner said to Asael: Go off, and do not follow me, lest I be obliged to stab thee to the ground, and I shall not be able to hold up my face to Joab thy brother.
23 Who contemned to hear, and would not go aside: Abner therefore struck him with his spear turned back in the privy parts, and thrust him through, and he died in the same place: and all that passed by that place, wherein Asael fell & died, did stay.
23 But he refused to hearken to him, and would not turn aside: wherefore Abner struck him with his spear with a back stroke in the groin, and thrust him through, and he died upon the spot: and all that came to the place where Asael fell down and died stood still.
24 But whiles Joab and Abisai pursued Abner flying, the sun went down: & they came as far as the hill of the water conduit, that is over-against the valley the way of the desert in Gabaon.
24 Now while Joab and Abisai pursued after Abner, the sun went down: and they came as far as the hill of the aqueduct, that lieth over against the valley by the way of the wilderness in Gabaon.
25 And the children of Benjamin were assembled together to Abner: and being gathered in a plump into one troop, they stood in the top of one hill.
25 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together to Abner: and being joined in one body, they stood on the top of a hill.
26 And Abner cried out to Joab, and said: Shall thy sword rage unto utter destruction? Knowest thou not that desperation is dangerous? How long deferrest thou to say to the people, that they leave to pursue their brethren?
26 And Abner cried out to Joab, and said: Shall thy sword rage unto utter destruction? Knowest thou not that it is dangerous to drive people to despair? How long dost thou defer to bid the people cease from pursuing after their brethren?
27 And Joab said: Our Lord liveth, if thou hadst spoken, in the morning had the people retired from pursuing their brethren.
27 And Joab said: As the Lord liveth, if thou hadst spoke sooner, even in the morning the people should have retired from pursuing after their brethren.
28 Joab therefore sounded the trumpet, and all the army stood, neither did they pursue Israel any further, nor enter into fight.
28 Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and all the army stood still, and did not pursue after Israel any farther, nor fight any more.
29 And Abner and his men went through the champion country, all that night: and they passed Jordan, and having viewed all Beth-horon, came to the camp.
29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plains: and they passed the Jordan, and having gone through all Beth-horon, came to the camp.
30 Moreover Joab returning, after he had left Abner, assembled all the people: and there wanted of David's servants nineteen men, beside Asael.
30 And Joab returning, after he had left Abner, assembled all the people: and there were wanting of David’s servants nineteen men, beside Asael.
31 But the servants of David struck of Benjamin, and of the men that were with Abner, three hundred three score, who also died.
31 But the servants of David had killed of Benjamin, and of the men that were with Abner, three hundred and sixty, who all died.
32 And they took Asael, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father in Bethlehem: and Joab, and the men that were with him, walked all the night, and in the very twilight they came into Hebron.
32 And they took Asael, and buried him in the sepulcher of his father in Bethlehem and Joab, and the men that were with him, marched all the night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.