10. Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel and reigned two years. Only the house of Judah followed David.
11. And the number of days that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
12. And Abner, the son of Ner, and the slaves of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
13. And Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and the slaves of David went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon, and when they met, the one group was on the one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.
14. And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise and sport before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
15. Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, who pertained to Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, and twelve of the slaves of David.
16. And each one caught his fellow by the head and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together; therefore, that place was called Helkathhazzurim, {Heb. the inheritance of the strong}, which is in Gibeon.
17. And there was a very severe battle that day where Abner and the men of Israel were overcome before the slaves of David.
18. And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel, and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
19. And Asahel pursued after Abner, and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
20. Then Abner looked behind him and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, Yes.
21. Then Abner said to him, Turn aside to thy right hand or to thy left and lay hold on one of the young men and take his spoil. But Asahel would not turn aside from following after him.
22. And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn aside from following me; why should I smite thee to the ground? How then should I hold up my face to Joab, thy brother?