David Made King over Judah

2 Then it came about afterwards that ^(A)David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” So David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “^(B)To Hebron.” ² So David went up there, and ^(C)his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the ^[a]widow of Nabal the Carmelite. ³ And ^(D)David brought up his men who were with him, each with his household; and they lived in the cities of Hebron. ⁴ 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.” ⁵ David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, “^(G)May you be blessed of the Lord because you have ^[b]shown this kindness to Saul your lord, and have buried him. ⁶ Now ^(H)may the Lord ^[c]show lovingkindness and truth to you; and I also will ^[d]show this goodness to you, because you have done this thing. ⁷ Now therefore, let your hands be strong and be ^[e]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

⁸ But ^(I)Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, had taken ^[f]Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to ^(J)Mahanaim. ⁹ 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)The ^[g]time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

Civil War

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 ^[h]them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, ^[i]one on the one side of the pool and ^[j]the other on the other side of the pool. ¹⁴ Then Abner said to Joab, “Now let the young men arise and ^[k](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 Each one of them seized his ^[l]opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his ^[m]opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called ^[n]Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. ¹⁷ That day the battle was very severe, and ^(R)Abner and the men of Israel were beaten 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 Asahel pursued Abner and did not ^[p]turn to the right or to the left from following Abner. ²⁰ Then Abner looked 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 take hold of 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 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 came about that all who came to the place where ^(V)Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.

²⁴ But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and when the sun was going down, they came to the hill of Ammah, which is in front of Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. ²⁵ 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 Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then the people would have gone away in the morning, each from following his brother.” ²⁸ So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people halted and pursued Israel no longer, ^(W)nor did they continue to fight anymore. ²⁹ 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 Then Joab returned from following Abner; when he had gathered all the people together, ^[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 three hundred and sixty 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.

The House of David Strengthened

3 Now ^(A)there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David grew steadily stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker continually.

^2 (B)Sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by ^(C)Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; ³ and his second, Chileab, by Abigail the ^[a]widow of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of ^(D)Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of ^(E)Geshur; ⁴ and the fourth, ^(F)Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; ⁵ and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David at Hebron.

Family of David

3 ^(A)Now these were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second was Daniel, by Abigail the Carmelitess; ² the third was Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth was Adonijah the son of Haggith; ³ the fifth was Shephatiah, by Abital; the sixth was Ithream, by his wife Eglah. ⁴ Six were born to him in Hebron, and ^(B)there he reigned seven years and six months. And in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years.

His Mighty Men

^8 (A)These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the ^[a]captains, he was called Adino the Eznite, because of eight hundred slain by him at one time; ⁹ and after him was Eleazar the son of ^(B)Dodo the ^(C)Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they ^[b]defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle and the men of Israel had ^[c]withdrawn. ^10 (D)He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and ^[d]clung to the sword, and ^(E)the Lord brought about a great ^[e]victory that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain.

¹¹ Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a ^(F)Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered ^[f]into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. ¹² But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and ^(G)the Lord brought about a great ^[g]victory.

¹³ Then three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David in the harvest time to the ^(H)cave of Adullam, while the troop of the Philistines was camping in ^(I)the valley of Rephaim. ¹⁴ David was then ^(J)in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. ^15 (K)David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!” ^16 (L)So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but ^(M)poured it out to the Lord; ¹⁷ and he said, “Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this. ^(N)Shall I drink the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

David’s Mighty Men

^10 (A)Now these are the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, ^(B)according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel. ¹¹ These constitute the list of the mighty men whom David had: ^(C)Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, ^(D)the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred ^[a]whom he killed at one time.

¹² After him was Eleazar the son of ^(E)Dodo, the Ahohite, who was ^[b]one of the three mighty men. ¹³ He was with David at ^[c]Pasdammim ^(F)when the Philistines were gathered together there to battle, and there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled before the Philistines. ¹⁴ They took their stand in the midst of the plot and defended it, and struck down the Philistines; and the Lord saved them by a great ^[d]victory.

¹⁵ Now three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam, while ^(G)the army of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim. ¹⁶ David was then in the stronghold, while ^(H)the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. ¹⁷ David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” ¹⁸ So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David; nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord; ¹⁹ and he said, “Be it far from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of these men who went ^[e]at the risk of their lives? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

^18 (A)Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was ^(B)chief of the ^[a]thirty. And he swung his spear against three hundred ^[b]and killed them, and had a name as well as the three. ¹⁹ He was most honored of the thirty, therefore he became their commander; however, he did not attain to the three.

²⁰ Then ^(C)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of ^(D)Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, ^[c]killed the ^[d]two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day. ²¹ He ^[e]killed an Egyptian, ^[f]an impressive man. Now the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. ²² These things ^(E)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and had a name as well as the three mighty men. ²³ He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David appointed him over his guard.

^24 (F)Asahel the brother of Joab was among the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, ^25 (G)Shammah the ^(H)Harodite, Elika the Harodite, ²⁶ Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the ^(I)Tekoite, ²⁷ Abiezer the ^(J)Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, ²⁸ Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the ^(K)Netophathite, ^29 (L)Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of ^(M)Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin, ³⁰ Benaiah a ^(N)Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of ^(O)Gaash, ³¹ Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the ^(P)Barhumite, ³² Eliahba the ^(Q)Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, ^33 (R)Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite, ³⁴ Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of ^(S)the Maacathite, ^(T)Eliam the son of ^(U)Ahithophel the Gilonite, ^35 (V)Hezro the ^(W)Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, ³⁶ Igal the son of Nathan of ^(X)Zobah, Bani the Gadite, ³⁷ Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the ^(Y)Beerothite, armor bearers of Joab the son of Zeruiah, ³⁸ Ira the ^(Z)Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, ^39 (AA)Uriah the Hittite; thirty-seven in all.

²⁰ As for ^[a]Abshai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the ^[b]thirty, and he swung his spear against three hundred ^[c]and killed them; and he had a name as well as the ^[d]thirty. ²¹ Of the three in the second rank he was the most honored and became their commander; however, he did not attain to the first three.

^22 (A)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, mighty in deeds, struck down the ^[e]two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and ^[f]killed a lion inside a pit on a snowy day. ²³ He ^[g]killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature five ^[h]cubits tall. Now in the Egyptian’s hand was ^(B)a spear like a weaver’s beam, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and ^[i]killed him with his own spear. ²⁴ These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and had a name as well as the three mighty men. ²⁵ Behold, he was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three; and David appointed him over his guard.

²⁶ Now the mighty men of the armies were Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, ^27 [j]Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the ^[k]Pelonite, ²⁸ Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, ^29 [l]Sibbecai the Hushathite, ^[m]Ilai the Ahohite, ³⁰ Maharai the Netophathite, ^[n]Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, ³¹ Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, ^32 [o]Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, ^[p]Abiel the Arbathite, ³³ Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, ³⁴ the sons of ^[q]Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite, ³⁵ Ahiam the son of ^[r]Sacar the Hararite, ^[s]Eliphal the son of Ur, ³⁶ Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, ³⁷ Hezro the Carmelite, ^[t]Naarai the son of Ezbai, ³⁸ Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri, ³⁹ Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, ⁴⁰ Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, ⁴¹ Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, ⁴² Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, ⁴³ Hanan the son of Maacah and Joshaphat the Mithnite, ⁴⁴ Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, ⁴⁵ Jediael the son of Shimri and Joha his brother, the Tizite, ⁴⁶ Eliel the Mahavite and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, ⁴⁷ Eliel and Obed and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.