War between Israel and Judah

¹² One day Abner led Ishbosheth’s troops from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

⁴ “Come and help me destroy Gibeon,” he urged them, “for they have made peace with Joshua and the people of Israel.”

² He and his people became very afraid when they heard all this because Gibeon was a large town—as large as the royal cities and larger than Ai. And the Gibeonite men were strong warriors.

³ But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

¹⁴ Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “Hushai’s advice is better than Ahithophel’s.” For the Lord had determined to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan, so that he could bring disaster on Absalom!

¹² On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said,

² When Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, “This is God’s camp!” So he named the place Mahanaim.^[a]