Study Desk

Then David called one of the young men and said, "Go, cut him down." So he hit him and he died.

After this, David asked the Lord, "Should I go up to one of the cities of Judah?" And the Lord said to him, "Go up." So David said, "Where should I go?" And He said, "To Hebron."

So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail who had been the wife of Nabal of Carmel.

So David sent men with news to the men of Jabesh-gilead, saying, "May the Lord bring good to you. Because you have shown kindness to your king Saul, and have buried him.

So now let your hands be strong. Have strength of heart. For your king Saul is dead. And those of the family of Judah have chosen me to be their king."

So they stood up and went over by number. There were twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

Each one of them took hold of the head of the one fighting against him, and put his sword into the other's side. So they fell down together. That is why that place was called field of swords, which is in Gibeon.

So Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right or left. Take hold of one of the young men, and take for yourself what belongs to him." But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him.

But he would not turn aside. So Abner hit him in the stomach with the end of his spear, so that the spear came out at his back. He fell there and died where he fell. And all who came to the place where Asahel fell and died, stood still.

So Joab sounded the horn, and all the people stopped and went after Israel no longer. And they did not fight any more.

But the servants of David had killed many of Benjamin and Abner's men, so that 360 men died.

May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David what the Lord has promised him.

So Ish-bosheth sent men to take her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish.

But her husband went with her, crying as he went. He followed her as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go, return." So he returned.

Abner said to David, "Let me go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so they may make an agreement with you. Then you may be king over all your heart desires." So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

Then Joab came to the king and said, "What have you done? See, Abner came to you. Why then have you sent him away, so that he is gone?

So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had killed their brother in the battle at Gibeon.

Then all the people came to try to talk David into eating bread while it was still day. But David promised, saying, "May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down."

So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king's will to kill Abner the son of Ner.

Now Saul's son Jonathan had a son who could not walk because of his feet. He was five years old when the news of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse had picked him up and ran. In her hurry to get away, he fell and hurt his feet so he could not walk. His name was Mephibosheth.