1. After this, David asked the Lord, “Should I go to one of the cities of Judah?”“Go,” the Lord answered him.“Where should I go?” David asked.“To Hebron,” the Lord replied.
2. David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail (who had been Nabal’s wife) from Carmel.
3. David took his men and their families with him, and they settled in the towns around Hebron.
4. Then the people of Judah came to Hebron and anointed David to be king over the tribe of Judah.They told David, “The people of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.”
5. So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh Gilead. He said to them, “May the Lord bless you because you showed kindness to your master Saul by burying him.
6. May the Lord always show you kindness. I, too, will be good to you because you did this.
7. Now, be strong and courageous. Because your master Saul is dead, the tribe of Judah has anointed me to be their king.”
8. Ner’s son Abner, commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ishbosheth and brought him to Mahanaim.
9. Abner made him king of Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin, that is, all Israel.
10. Saul’s son Ishbosheth was 40 years old when he became king of Israel. He ruled for two years, but the tribe of Judah followed David.
11. In Hebron David was king over the tribe of Judah for seven years and six months.
12. Ner’s son Abner and the officers of Saul’s son Ishbosheth went from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
13. Zeruiah’s son Joab and David’s officers also left ⌊Hebron⌋. Both groups met at the pool of Gibeon. They sat down there, one group on one side of the pool and the other group on the other side of the pool.
14. Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have the young men hold a contest.” Joab agreed.
15. The men got up and were counted as they passed by. Twelve were from the tribe of Benjamin (representing Saul’s son Ishbosheth), and twelve were from David’s officers.
16. Each one grabbed his opponent by the head, stuck his sword into his opponent’s side, and they fell down together. Therefore, that place in Gibeon is called the Field of Enemies.