Beginning
David Learns About Saul’s Death
1 Now Saul was dead. And after David had defeated the Amalekites, he returned to Ziklag. He stayed there two days. 2 On the third day a young man came to Ziklag. He came from Saul’s camp. To show his sadness his clothes were torn, and he had dirt on his head. He came and bowed facedown on the ground before David.
3 David asked him, “Where did you come from?”
The man answered him, “I escaped from the Israelite camp.”
4 David asked him, “What happened? Please tell me!”
The man answered, “The people have run away from the battle. Many of them have fallen dead. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead also.”
5 David said to him, “How do you know Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
6 The young man answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa. There I saw Saul leaning on his spear. The Philistine chariots and the men riding in them were coming closer to Saul. 7 When he looked back and saw me, he called to me. I answered him, ‘Here I am!’
8 “Then Saul asked me, ‘Who are you?’
“I told him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
9 “Then Saul said to me, ‘Please come here and kill me. I am badly hurt and am almost dead already.’
10 “So I went over and killed him. He had been hurt so badly I knew he couldn’t live. Then I took the crown from his head and the bracelet from his arm. I have brought them here to you, my master.”
11 Then David tore his clothes to show his sorrow. And all the men with him did also. 12 They were very sad and cried. They did not eat until evening. They cried for Saul and his son Jonathan. And they cried for the Israelites who had been killed with swords.
David Orders the Amalekite Killed
13 David asked the young man who brought the report, “Where are you from?”
The young man answered, “I am the son of a foreigner. I am an Amalekite.”
14 David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to kill the Lord’s appointed king?”
15 Then David called one of his men. David told him, “Go! Kill the Amalekite!” So the Israelite killed the Amalekite. 16 David had said to the Amalekite, “You are responsible for your own death. You have spoken against yourself! You said, ‘I have killed the Lord’s appointed king.’”
David’s Song About Saul and Jonathan
17 David sang a funeral song about Saul and his son Jonathan. 18 David ordered that the people of Judah be taught this song. It is called “The Bow.” This song is written in the Book of Jashar:
19 “Israel, your leaders have been killed on the hills.
How the mighty men have fallen in battle!
20 Don’t tell it in Gath.
Don’t announce it in the streets of Ashkelon.
If you do, the daughters of the Philistines will be happy.
The daughters of the Philistines will rejoice.
21 “May there be no dew or rain on the mountains of Gilboa.
May their fields produce no grain.
This is because there the mighty warrior’s shield was dishonored.
Saul’s shield was no longer rubbed with oil.
22 Jonathan’s bow killed its share of enemies.
And Saul’s sword killed its share, too.
Their weapons are stained with the blood of dead men.
Their weapons have stabbed the flesh of strong men.
23 “We loved Saul and Jonathan.
We enjoyed them while they lived.
Saul and Jonathan are together even in death.
They were faster than eagles.
They were stronger than lions.
24 “You daughters of Israel, cry for Saul.
Saul clothed you with red dresses.
He put gold decorations on your dresses.
25 “How the mighty men have fallen in battle!
Jonathan is dead on Gilboa’s hills.
26 I cry for you, my brother Jonathan.
I enjoyed your friendship so much.
Your love to me was wonderful,
more wonderful than the love of women.
27 “How the mighty men have fallen in battle!
The weapons of war are gone.”
David Is Made King of Judah
2 Later, David prayed to the Lord. David said, “Should I go up to any of the cities of Judah?”
The Lord said to David, “Go.”
David asked, “Where should I go?”
The Lord answered, “To Hebron.”
2 So David went up to Hebron with his two wives. One was Ahinoam from Jezreel. The other was Abigail, the widow of Nabal in Carmel. 3 David also brought his men and their families. They all made their homes in the cities of Hebron. 4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron. They appointed David king over Judah.
They told David that the men of Jabesh Gilead had buried Saul. 5 So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead. They told David’s message to the men in Jabesh: “The Lord bless you. You have shown kindness to your master Saul by burying him. 6 May the Lord now be kind and true to you. I will also be kind to you because you have done this. 7 Now be strong and brave. Saul your master is dead. The people of Judah have appointed me their king.”
War Between Judah and Israel
8 Now Abner son of Ner was the commander of Saul’s army. Abner took Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth to Mahanaim. 9 There Abner made him king of Gilead, Ashuri, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel. 10 Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth was 40 years old when he became king over Israel. He ruled two years. But the people of Judah followed David. 11 David was king in Hebron for seven years and six months.
12 Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul left Mahanaim. They went to Gibeon. 13 Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s men also went there. They met Abner and Ish-Bosheth’s men at the pool of Gibeon. Abner’s group sat on one side of the pool. Joab’s group sat on the other side.
14 Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have the young men get up and have a contest here.”
Joab said, “Yes, let them have a contest.”
15 Then the young men got up. The two groups counted their men for the contest. Twelve men were chosen from the people of Benjamin for Ish-Bosheth son of Saul. Twelve men were chosen from David’s men. 16 Each man grabbed his enemy’s head. Then he stabbed his enemy’s side with a knife. And the men fell down together. So that place in Gibeon is called The Field of the Sharp Knives. 17 That day the contest became a terrible battle. And David’s men defeated Abner and the Israelites.
Abner Kills Asahel
18 Zeruiah’s three sons, Joab, Abishai and Asahel, were there. Now Asahel was a fast runner. He was as fast as a deer in the field. 19 Asahel chased Abner, going straight toward him. 20 Abner looked back and asked, “Are you Asahel?”
Asahel said, “Yes, I am.”
21 Then Abner said to Asahel, “Turn to your right or left. Catch one of the young men and take his armor.” But Asahel refused to stop chasing him.
22 Abner again said to Asahel, “Stop chasing me! If you don’t stop, I’ll have to kill you! Then I won’t be able to face your brother Joab again!”
23 But Asahel refused to stop chasing Abner. So Abner used the back end of his spear. He stabbed it into Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out of his back. Asahel died right there. Everyone stopped when they came to the place where Asahel’s body lay.
24 But Joab and Abishai continued chasing Abner. The sun was going down when they arrived at the hill of Ammah. This is near Giah on the way to the empty land near Gibeon. 25 The men of Benjamin came to Abner. They all stood together at the top of the hill.
26 Abner shouted to Joab, “Must the sword kill forever? Surely you must know this will only end in sadness! Tell the people to stop chasing their own brothers!”
27 Then Joab said, “If you had not said anything, the people would have chased their brothers until morning. This is as sure as God is alive.” 28 Then Joab blew a trumpet, and his people stopped chasing the Israelites. They did not try to fight them anymore.
29 Abner and his men marched all night through the Jordan Valley. They crossed the Jordan River. After marching all day, they arrived at Mahanaim.
30 Joab came back after he had stopped chasing Abner. Then Joab gathered the people together. Asahel and 19 of David’s men were missing. 31 But David’s men had killed 360 Benjaminites who had followed Abner. 32 David’s men took Asahel and buried him. They put him in the tomb of his father at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night. The sun came up as they reached Hebron.
3 There was a long war between the people who supported Saul’s family and those who supported David’s family. The supporters of David’s family became stronger and stronger. And the supporters of Saul’s family became weaker and weaker.
David’s Sons
2 Sons were born to David at Hebron. The first son was Amnon. Amnon’s mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel. 3 The second son was Kileab. Kileab’s mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. The third son was Absalom. Absalom’s mother was Maacah daughter of Talmai. Talmai was king of Geshur. 4 The fourth son was Adonijah. His mother was Haggith. The fifth son was Shephatiah. His mother was Abital. 5 The sixth son was Ithream. His mother was Eglah, David’s wife. These sons were born to David at Hebron.
Abner Joins David
6 Abner made himself a main leader among the supporters of Saul. He did this during the war between the supporters of Saul’s family and the supporters of David’s family.
7 Now Saul had once had a slave woman named Rizpah. She was the daughter of Aiah. Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you have physical relations with my father’s slave woman?”
8 Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. Abner said, “I have been loyal to Saul and his family and friends! I didn’t hand you over to David. I am not a traitor working for Judah! But now you are saying I did something wrong with this woman! 9 May God punish me terribly if I don’t help David. I will make sure that what God promised does happen! 10 I will take the kingdom from the family of Saul. I will make David king of Israel and Judah! He will rule from Dan to Beersheba.”[a]
11 Ish-Bosheth couldn’t say anything to Abner. He was too afraid of Abner.
12 Then Abner sent messengers to David. Abner said, “Who is going to rule the land? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you become the king of all Israel.”
13 David answered, “Good! I will make an agreement with you. But I ask you one thing. I will not meet with you unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal to me.” 14 Then David sent messengers to Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth. David said, “Give me my wife Michal. She was promised to me. I killed 100 Philistines to get her.”
15 So Ish-Bosheth sent men to take Michal from her husband. He was Paltiel son of Laish. 16 Michal’s husband went with her, crying as he followed her to Bahurim. But Abner said to Paltiel, “Go back home.” So he went home.
17 Abner sent a message to the elders of Israel. He said, “You have been wanting to make David your king. 18 Now do it! The Lord has spoken about David. The Lord said, ‘I will save my people the Israelites. I will save them from the Philistines and all their enemies. I will do this through my servant David.’”
19 Abner also said these things to the people of Benjamin. He then went to Hebron to tell David what the Benjaminites and Israel wanted to do. 20 Abner came with 20 men to David at Hebron. There David prepared a feast for them. 21 Then Abner said to David, “My master and king, I will go and bring all the Israelites to you. Then they will make an agreement with you. You will rule over all Israel as you wanted.” So David let Abner go, and he left in peace.
Abner’s Death
22 Just then Joab and David’s men came from a battle. They had many valuable things they had taken from the enemy. David had let Abner leave in peace. So he was not with David at Hebron. 23 Joab and all his army arrived at Hebron. The army said to Joab, “Abner son of Ner came to King David. And David let him leave in peace.”
24 Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he’s gone. 25 You know Abner son of Ner! He came to trick you! He came to learn about everything you are doing!”
26 Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought Abner back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know this. 27 When Abner arrived at Hebron, Joab took him aside into the gateway. Joab acted as though he wanted to talk with him in private. But Joab stabbed Abner in the stomach, and Abner died. Abner had killed Joab’s brother Asahel. So Joab killed Abner to pay him back.
28 Later David heard the news. He said, “My kingdom and I are innocent forever. We did not kill Abner son of Ner. The Lord knows this. 29 Joab and his family are responsible for this. I hope many troubles will come to his family. May his family always have someone with sores or with a harmful skin disease. May they always have someone who must lean on a crutch. May some of his family be killed in war. May they always have someone without food to eat.”
30 (Joab and his brother Abishai had killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel. This was in the battle at Gibeon.)
31 Then David spoke to Joab and to all the people with Joab. He said, “Tear your clothes and put on rough cloth to show how sad you are. Cry for Abner.” King David himself followed behind the body of Abner. 32 So they buried Abner in Hebron. David and all the people cried at Abner’s grave.
33 King David sang this funeral song for Abner.
“Did Abner die like a foolish man?
34 His hands were not tied.
His feet were not in chains.
He fell as a person falls before evil men.”
Then all the people cried again for Abner. 35 They came to encourage David to eat while it was still day. But he made a promise. He said, “May God punish me terribly if I eat bread or any other food before the sun sets!”
36 All the people saw what happened. They agreed with what the king was doing. 37 That day all the people of Judah and all the Israelites understood. They knew it was not David who had killed Abner son of Ner.
38 David said to his officers, “You know that a very important leader died today in Israel. 39 Even though I am the appointed king, I am weak today. These sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the Lord give them the punishment they should have.”
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.