Then David took hold on his clothes and rent them, and likewise all the men who were with him.

and made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

So Joab blew a trumpet; and all the people stood still and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over the Jordan and went through all Bithron; and they came to Mahanaim.

And Joab returned from following Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.

And they took up Asahel and buried him in the sepulcher of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “Whose land is it?” saying also, “Make thy league with me, and behold, my hand shall be with thee to bring about all Israel unto thee.”

Now then do it; for the Lord hath spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David, I will save My people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines and out of the hand of all their enemies.’”

And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin; and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.

And Abner said unto David, “I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth.” And David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

When Joab and all the host that was with him had come, they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he has gone in peace.”

Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.”

Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail from the house of Joab one who hath an issue, or who is a leper, or who leaneth on a staff, or who falleth on the sword, or who lacketh bread.”

And David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Rend your clothes and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself followed the bier.

And they buried Abner in Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

Thy hands were not bound nor thy feet put into fetters. As a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou.” And all the people wept again over him.

And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David swore, saying, “So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread or aught else till the sun be down.”

And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not because of the king that Abner the son of Ner was slain.

And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber; and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and got themselves away through the plain all night.

And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, “As the Lord liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron and spoke, saying, “Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.