David es ungido rey de Judá

Pasado algún tiempo, David consultó al Señor:

—¿Debo ir a alguna de las ciudades de Judá?

—Sí, debes ir —respondió el Señor.

—¿Y a qué ciudad quieres que vaya?

—A Hebrón.

Así que David fue allá con sus dos esposas, Ajinoán la jezrelita y Abigaíl, la viuda de Nabal de Carmel. Se llevó además a sus hombres, cada cual acompañado de su familia, y todos se establecieron en Hebrón y sus aldeas. Entonces los habitantes de Judá fueron a Hebrón y allí ungieron a David como rey de su tribu. Además, le comunicaron que los habitantes de Jabés de Galaad habían sepultado a Saúl. Entonces David envió a los de Jabés el siguiente mensaje: «Que el Señor los bendiga por haberle sido fieles a su señor Saúl y por darle sepultura. Y ahora, que el Señor muestre a ustedes su amor y fidelidad, aunque yo también quiero recompensarlos por esto que han hecho. Cobren ánimo y sean valientes, pues aunque su señor Saúl ha muerto, la tribu de Judá me ha ungido como su rey».

Guerra entre las tribus

Entretanto, Abner, hijo de Ner, comandante del ejército de Saúl, llevó a Isboset, hijo de Saúl, a la ciudad de Majanayin. Allí lo instauró rey de Galaad, de Asurí, de Jezrel, de Efraín, de Benjamín y de todo Israel.

10 Isboset, hijo de Saúl, tenía cuarenta años cuando fue instaurado rey de Israel y reinó dos años. La tribu de Judá, por su parte, reconoció a David, 11 quien desde Hebrón reinó sobre la tribu de Judá durante siete años y seis meses.

12 Abner, hijo de Ner, salió de Majanayin con las tropas de Isboset, hijo de Saúl, y llegó a Gabaón. 13 Joab, hijo de Sarvia, por su parte, salió al frente de las tropas de David. Los dos ejércitos se encontraron en el estanque de Gabaón y tomaron posiciones en lados opuestos. 14 Entonces Abner dijo a Joab:

—Propongo que salgan unos cuantos jóvenes y midan sus armas en presencia de nosotros.

—De acuerdo —respondió Joab.

15 Así que pasaron al frente doce jóvenes del ejército benjamita de Isboset, hijo de Saúl, y doce de los siervos de David. 16 Cada soldado agarró a su rival por la cabeza y le clavó la espada en el costado, de modo que ambos combatientes murieron al mismo tiempo. Por eso a aquel lugar, que queda cerca de Gabaón, se le llama Jelcat Hazurín.[a]

17 Aquel día la batalla fue muy dura y los siervos de David derrotaron a Abner y a los soldados de Israel.

18 Allí se encontraban Joab, Abisay y Asael, los tres hijos de Sarvia. Asael, que corría tan ligero como una gacela en campo abierto, 19 se lanzó tras Abner y lo persiguió sin vacilar. 20 Al mirar hacia atrás, Abner preguntó:

—¿Acaso no eres tú, Asael?

—¡Claro que sí! —respondió.

21 —¡Déjame tranquilo! —exclamó Abner—. Más te vale que agarres a algún otro y que te quedes con sus armas.

Pero Asael no hizo caso, 22 así que Abner advirtió una vez más:

—¡Deja ya de perseguirme o me veré obligado a matarte! Y entonces, ¿cómo podría mirar a la cara a tu hermano Joab?

23 Como Asael no dejaba de perseguirlo, Abner le dio un golpe con la punta trasera de su lanza y le atravesó el vientre. La lanza salió por la espalda y ahí mismo Asael cayó muerto.

Todos los que pasaban por ahí se detenían a ver el cuerpo de Asael, 24 pero Joab y Abisay se lanzaron tras Abner. Ya se ponía el sol cuando llegaron al collado de Amá, frente a Guiaj, en el camino que lleva al desierto de Gabaón. 25 Entonces los soldados benjamitas se reunieron para apoyar a Abner y, formando un grupo cerrado, tomaron posiciones en lo alto de una colina.

26 Abner gritó a Joab:

—¿Vamos a dejar que siga esta matanza? ¿No te das cuenta de que esto solo traerá amargura? ¿Qué esperas para ordenarles a tus soldados que dejen de perseguir a sus hermanos?

27 Joab respondió:

—Tan cierto como que Dios vive, si no hubieras hablado, mis soldados habrían perseguido a sus hermanos hasta el amanecer.

28 Enseguida Joab hizo tocar la trompeta y todos los soldados, dejando de perseguir a los israelitas, se detuvieron y ya no pelearon más.

29 Toda esa noche Abner y sus hombres atravesaron el Arabá. Después de cruzar el Jordán, siguieron por todo el territorio de Bitrón[b] hasta llegar a Majanayin.

30 Una vez que Joab dejó de perseguir a Abner, regresó y reunió a todo su ejército para contarlo. Además de Asael, faltaban diecinueve de los soldados de David. 31 Sin embargo, los soldados de David habían matado a trescientos sesenta de los soldados benjamitas de Abner. 32 Tomaron luego el cuerpo de Asael y lo sepultaron en Belén, en la tumba de su padre. Toda esa noche Joab y sus hombres marcharon y llegaron a Hebrón al amanecer.

Footnotes

  1. 2:16 En hebreo, Jelcat Hazurín probablemente significa campo de dagas.
  2. 2:29 siguieron … Bitrón. Alt. caminaron toda la mañana.

David Anointed King of Judah

Now it happened afterwards that (A)David asked of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” And Yahweh said to him, “Go up.” So David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “(B)To Hebron.” So David went up there, and (C)his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And (D)David brought up his men who were with him, each with his household; and they lived in the cities of Hebron. Then the men of Judah came and there (E)anointed David king over the house of Judah.

And they told David, saying, “It was (F)the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.” And David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, “(G)May you be blessed of Yahweh because you have [a]shown this lovingkindness with your lord, with Saul, and have buried him. So now, (H)may Yahweh [b]show lovingkindness and truth to you; and I also will [c]show this goodness to you, because you have done this thing. So now, let your hands be strong and be [d]valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

Ish-bosheth Made King over Israel

Now (I)Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, had taken [e]Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to (J)Mahanaim. And he made him king over (K)Gilead, over the (L)Ashurites, over (M)Jezreel, over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, even over all Israel. 10 Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he was king for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David. 11 (N)And the [f]time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

Abner Defeated Before David

12 Now Abner the son of Ner, went out from Mahanaim to (O)Gibeon with the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul. 13 And (P)Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met [g]them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, [h]one on the one side of the pool and [i]the other on the other side of the pool. 14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Now let the young men arise and [j](Q)hold a contest before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.” 15 So they arose and went over by count, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16 And each one of them seized his [k]opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his [l]opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called [m]Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. 17 And that day the battle was very severe, and (R)Abner and the men of Israel were [n]defeated before the servants of David.

18 Now (S)the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel; and Asahel was (T)as [o]swift-footed as one of the gazelles which is in the field. 19 And Asahel pursued Abner and did not [p]turn to the right or to the left from following Abner. 20 Then Abner turned to look behind him and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” And he answered, “It is I.” 21 So Abner said to him, “[q]Turn to your right or to your left, and seize one of the young men for yourself, and take for yourself his spoil.” But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him. 22 And Abner repeated again to Asahel, “Turn [r]aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? (U)How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?” 23 However, he refused to turn aside; therefore Abner struck him in the belly with the butt end of the spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died on the spot. And it happened that all who came to the place where (V)Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.

24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. Now the sun was going down, and they came to the hill of Ammah, which is in front of Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 And the sons of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one band, and they stood on the top of a certain hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long will you [s]refrain from telling the people to turn back from following their brothers?” 27 And Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then the people would have only gone away in the morning, each from following his brother.” 28 So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still and pursued Israel no longer, (W)nor did they continue to fight anymore. 29 But Abner and his men then went through the Arabah all that night; so they crossed the Jordan, walked all morning, and came to (X)Mahanaim.

30 Now Joab returned from following Abner. And he had gathered all the people together, and [t]nineteen of David’s servants besides Asahel were missing. 31 But the servants of David had struck down many of Benjamin and Abner’s men, so that 360 men died. 32 And they took up Asahel and buried him (Y)in his father’s tomb which was in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men went all night until the day [u]dawned at Hebron.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 2:5 Lit done
  2. 2 Samuel 2:6 Lit do
  3. 2 Samuel 2:6 Lit do
  4. 2 Samuel 2:7 Lit sons of valor
  5. 2 Samuel 2:8 Lit man of shame, also known as Eshbaal, cf. 1 Chr 8:33
  6. 2 Samuel 2:11 Lit number of days
  7. 2 Samuel 2:13 Lit them together
  8. 2 Samuel 2:13 Lit these
  9. 2 Samuel 2:13 Lit these
  10. 2 Samuel 2:14 Lit make sport
  11. 2 Samuel 2:16 Lit fellow
  12. 2 Samuel 2:16 Lit fellow’s
  13. 2 Samuel 2:16 Lit the field of sword-edges
  14. 2 Samuel 2:17 Lit smitten
  15. 2 Samuel 2:18 Lit light in his feet
  16. 2 Samuel 2:19 Lit turn to go to
  17. 2 Samuel 2:21 Lit Turn for yourself
  18. 2 Samuel 2:22 Lit aside for yourself
  19. 2 Samuel 2:26 Lit not tell the people
  20. 2 Samuel 2:30 Lit nineteen men
  21. 2 Samuel 2:32 Lit lighted on them

After this, David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?”

Yahweh said to him, “Go up.”

David said, “Where shall I go up?”

He said, “To Hebron.”

So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. David brought up his men who were with him, every man with his household. They lived in the cities of Hebron. The men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were those who buried Saul.” David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, “Blessed are you by Yahweh, that you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him. Now may Yahweh show loving kindness and truth to you. I also will reward you for this kindness, because you have done this thing. Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.”

Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, had taken Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. He made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10 Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

12 Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 Joab the son of Zeruiah and David’s servants went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool. 14 Abner said to Joab, “Please let the young men arise and compete before us!”

Joab said, “Let them arise!” 15 Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of David’s servants. 16 They each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.[a] 17 The battle was very severe that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before David’s servants. 18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle. 19 Asahel pursued Abner. He didn’t turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.

20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Is that you, Asahel?”

He answered, “It is.”

21 Abner said to him, “Turn away to your right hand or to your left, and grab one of the young men, and take his armor.” But Asahel would not turn away from following him. 22 Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn away from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I look Joab your brother in the face?” 23 However, he refused to turn away. Therefore Abner with the back end of the spear struck him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there and died in the same place. As many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.

24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. The sun went down when they had come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Don’t you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long will it be then, before you ask the people to return from following their brothers?”

27 Joab said, “As God[b] lives, if you had not spoken, surely then in the morning the people would have gone away, and not each followed his brother.” 28 So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still and pursued Israel no more, and they fought no more. 29 Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah; and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim.

30 Joab returned from following Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen men of David’s and Asahel were missing. 31 But David’s servants had struck Benjamin Abner’s men so that three hundred sixty men died. 32 They took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was in Bethlehem. Joab and his men went all night, and the day broke on them at Hebron.

Footnotes

  1. 2:16 “Helkath Hazzurim” means “field of daggers”.
  2. 2:27 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).

And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.

So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.

And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.

And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the Lord, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.

And now the Lord shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.

Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.

But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

10 Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.

11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.

14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

16 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

17 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

18 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

19 And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.

21 And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.

22 And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?

23 Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.

24 Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

25 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.

26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

27 And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.

28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.

30 And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.

31 But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.

32 And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.