Study Desk

On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head arrived from Saul's camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him homage.

"What was the outcome?" David asked. "Please tell me." "The troops fled from the battle," he replied. "Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead."

David asked the young man who had brought him the report, "How do you know Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?"

"I happened to be on Mount Gilboa," he replied, "and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and the cavalry closing in on him.

So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord."

Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same.

They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

Then David took up this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan,

So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.

David also took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron.

Then 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 the Field of Swords.

and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit.

So 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.

But 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.

And all that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning, and arrived at Mahanaim.

Later, 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.

And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;

his second was Chileab, by Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel; his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah the daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;

his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital;

and his sixth was Ithream, by David's wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron.