2 Samuel 2:12-17
Christian Standard Bible
12 Abner son of Ner and soldiers of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 So Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s soldiers marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon.(A) The two groups took up positions on opposite sides of the pool.
14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have the young men get up and compete in front of us.”
“Let them get up,” Joab replied.
15 So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from David’s soldiers. 16 Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side so that they all died together. So this place, which is in Gibeon, is named Field of Blades.[a]
17 The battle that day was extremely fierce, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by David’s soldiers.
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- 2:16 Or Helkath-hazzurim
2 Samuel 2:12-17
International Standard Version
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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- 2 Samuel 2:16 The Heb. lacks plunged
- 2 Samuel 2:16 Lit. Helkath-hazzurim
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