Conflict between Judah and Israel

¹² Abner, Ner’s son, along with the soldiers of Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, left Mahanaim to go to Gibeon. ¹³ Joab, Zeruiah’s son, and David’s soldiers also came out and confronted them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat on one side of the pool; the other sat on the opposite side of the pool. ¹⁴ Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have the young men fight in a contest^[a] before us.”

“All right,” Joab said, “let’s do it.” ¹⁵ So the men came forward and were counted as they passed by: twelve for Benjamin and Ishbosheth, Saul’s son; and twelve of David’s soldiers. ¹⁶ Each man grabbed his opponent by the head and stuck^[b] his sword into his opponent’s side so that they both fell dead together. That’s why that place is called The Field of Daggers,^[c] which is located in Gibeon. ¹⁷ A fierce battle took place that day, and Abner and the Israelite troops were defeated by David’s soldiers.