² When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!”^(A) So he named that place Mahanaim.^[a](B)

War Between the Houses of David and Saul^(A)

⁸ Meanwhile, Abner^(B) son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth^(C) son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.^(D)

³⁸ from the tribe of Gad,

¹⁴ “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown^(A) to the ground^(B) in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord^[a] have for his servant?”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

⁸ “And remember, you have with you Shimei^(A) son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim.^(B) When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore^(C) to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’

Absalom’s Death

²⁴ David went to Mahanaim,^(A) and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.