2 Samuel 2:12-17
Lexham English Bible
War between Judah and Israel
12 Abner the son of Ner and the servants of Ish-Bosheth the son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 Then Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out, and they met at the pool of Gibeon. The one group sat on one side of the pool, and the other sat on the other side. 14 Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men come up and fight in our presence.” And Joab said, “Let them come up.” 15 So they came forward and passed by in number: twelve for Benjamin and for Ish-Bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David. 16 Then each seized his opponent[a] by the head and each thrust his sword in the side of his opponent, so they fell together. So they[b] called the name of that place Helkath Hazzurim,[c] which is in Gibeon. 17 Then the battle became increasingly fierce[d] on that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated before the servants of David.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Samuel 2:16 Literally “neighbor”
- 2 Samuel 2:16 Hebrew “he”
- 2 Samuel 2:16 Helkath Hazzurim possibly means “the slippery slope”
- 2 Samuel 2:17 Literally “and it was/became strong/fierce until very”
2 Samuel 2:12-17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Battle of Gibeon
12 Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ishbaal[a] son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.(A) 13 Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat on one side of the pool, while the other sat on the other side of the pool.(B) 14 Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men come forward and have a contest before us.” Joab said, “Let them come forward.” 15 So they came forward and were counted as they passed by, twelve for Benjamin and Ishbaal[b] son of Saul and twelve of the servants of David. 16 Each grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side, so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim,[c] which is at Gibeon. 17 The battle was very fierce that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten by the servants of David.(C)
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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.