Study Desk

David said to the young man, "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?"

The young man said, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa. There I saw Saul holding himself up with his spear. The war-wagons and the horsemen were coming close after him.

So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew he could not live after he had fallen. Then I took the crown which was on his head and the beautiful gold band which he wore on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord."

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

They cried in sorrow and did not eat until evening, because of Saul and his son Jonathan, and of the people of the Lord and of the family of Israel. For they had fallen by the sword.

Then David sang a song of sorrow for Saul and his son Jonathan.

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

David brought up his men who were with him, each one with those of his family. They lived in the cities of Hebron.

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.

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.

Abner and his men went all night through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, walked all morning, and came to Mahanaim.

They picked up Asahel and buried him in his father's grave in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men walked all night and came to Hebron early the next morning.

Sons were born to David at Hebron. His first-born was Amnon, by David's wife Ahinoam of Jezreel.

His second son was Chileab, by Abigail who had been the wife of Nabal of Carmel. The third was Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.

Now Saul had a woman acting as his wife whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to the woman who acted as my father's wife?"

Abner was very angry because of Ish-bosheth's words, and said, "Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the family of your father Saul, to his brothers and to his friends. I have not given you into David's hands. Yet today you say I am guilty because of this woman.

When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the center of the gate to speak with him alone. There Joab hit him in the stomach and killed him because of the blood of his brother Asahel.

May the guilt be on the head of Joab and all his father's family. May the family of Joab never be without one who has a flow from his body, or a bad skin disease, or the need to use a walking stick. Or may his family never be without one who falls by the sword, or who needs more bread."

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

Then the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a leader, and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?