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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 play 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.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:16 “Helkath Hazzurim” means “field of daggers”.

12 Ner’s son Abner and the servants of Saul’s son Ish-bosheth set out from Mahanaim for Gibeon. 13 Zeruiah’s son Joab and some of David’s staff went out to meet them at the pool of Gibeon. One side encamped on one side of the pool while the other encamped on the other side of the pool.

14 Abner told Joab, “Let’s have the young men get up and fight in our presence.”

Joab replied, “Let them come.”

15 So they got up and twelve were counted to represent Benjamin and Saul’s son Ish-bosheth and twelve to represent members of David’s staff. 16 Each man grabbed his opponent by the head, plunged[a] his sword into his opponent’s side, and then they both fell together. That’s why the place at Gibeon was named The Field of Swords.[b] 17 The battle was very violent that day, with Abner and the men of Israel being defeated in the presence of David’s servants.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 2:16 The Heb. lacks plunged
  2. 2 Samuel 2:16 Lit. Helkath-hazzurim