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 and went to Gibeon.
13. Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s men also went there and 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.
14. Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men have a contest here.”Joab said, “Yes, let them have a contest.”
15. Then the men got up and were counted—twelve from the people of Benjamin for Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from David’s men.
16. Each man grabbed the one opposite him by the head and stabbed him in the side with a knife. So the men fell down together. For that reason, that place in Gibeon is called the Field of Knives.
17. That day there was a terrible battle, and David’s men defeated Abner and the Israelites.