David Anointed King of Judah
Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” 1Sa 30:31Pro 3:5-6Psa 143:81Sa 23:21Sa 23:4Gen 32:21Sa 23:9-12Ezk 36:37
“Go up,” the LORD answered.
Then David asked, “Where should I go?”
“To Hebron,” replied the LORD.
So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 1Sa 25:42-431Sa 30:5Luk 22:28-29 David also took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron. 1Ch 12:1-71Sa 27:2-31Sa 30:11Sa 22:21Sa 30:9-10Jos 21:11-12
Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.” 2Sa 5:51Sa 31:11-132Sa 5:31Ch 11:31Sa 16:132Sa 19:112Sa 19:422Sa 2:11
So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead to tell them, “The LORD bless you, because you showed this kindness to Saul your lord when you buried him. 1Sa 23:21Psa 115:151Sa 24:191Sa 25:32-33Rut 2:20Rut 3:10Rut 1:8 Now may the LORD show you loving devotion 1and faithfulness, and I will also show you the same favor because you have done this. Pro 14:22Exo 34:6Mat 5:44Mat 5:72Sa 10:22Sa 15:202Sa 9:32Sa 9:7 Now then, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me as their king.” Eph 6:102Sa 10:121Sa 31:121Sa 4:9Gen 15:11Co 16:131Sa 31:7
Ish-bosheth Made King of Israel
Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, 2 moved him to Mahanaim, 1Sa 14:50Gen 32:21Ch 8:331Ch 9:391Sa 17:551Sa 26:142Sa 17:26-272Sa 3:7-8 and made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel. Gen 30:13Jdg 1:32Jos 13:8-11Jos 19:18Num 1:40Num 32:1-42Psa 108:8
Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for two years.
The house of Judah, however, followed David. And the length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 1Ki 2:112Sa 5:4-51Ch 29:271Ch 3:4
The Battle of Gibeon
One day Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. Jos 10:2Jos 10:4Jos 18:25Jos 9:32Sa 17:14Gen 32:2Jos 10:12 So Joab son of Zeruiah, along with the servants of David, marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. And the two camps took up positions on opposite sides of the pool. 1Ch 2:162Sa 8:161Ch 11:61Ki 1:71Ki 2:28-352Sa 2:182Sa 20:23Jer 41:12
Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” 2Sa 2:172Sa 2:26-27Pro 10:23Pro 17:14Pro 20:18Pro 25:8Pro 26:18-19
“Let them get up,” Joab replied.
So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side, and they all fell together. So this place, which is in Gibeon, is called Helkath-hazzurim. 3
The battle that day was intense, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David. 2Sa 3:1
The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle, 1Ch 12:8Hab 3:19Psa 18:33Sng 2:17Sng 8:141Ch 11:261Ch 2:15-161Sa 26:6 and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit. 2Ki 22:22Sa 2:21Jos 1:7Jos 23:6Pro 4:27 And Abner glanced back and said, “Is that you, Asahel?”
“It is,” Asahel replied.
So Abner told him, “Turn to your right or to your left, seize one of the young men, and take his equipment for yourself.” Jdg 14:19
But Asahel would not stop chasing him.
Once again, Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?” 2Sa 3:272Ki 14:10-12Ecc 6:10Pro 29:1
But Asahel refused to turn away; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into his stomach, and it came out his back, and he fell dead on the spot. And every man paused when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died. 2Sa 3:272Sa 4:62Sa 20:102Sa 5:62Sa 20:12-13 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.
The Benjamites rallied to Abner, formed a single unit, and took their stand atop a hill. Then Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?” Jer 46:14Act 7:26Jer 46:102Sa 11:252Sa 2:142Sa 2:16Hos 11:6Isa 1:20
“As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.” 1Sa 25:262Sa 2:14Pro 17:14Isa 47:7Job 27:2Luk 14:31-32Pro 15:1Pro 20:18
So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight. And all that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning, 4 and arrived at Mahanaim. 2Sa 2:8Sng 2:17
When Joab returned from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops.
In addition to Asahel, nineteen of David’s servants were missing, but they had struck down 360 Benjamites who were with Abner. 1Ki 20:112Sa 3:1 Later, they took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and reached Hebron at daybreak. 1Ch 2:13-161Sa 17:582Ch 16:142Ch 21:12Sa 5:1Pro 22:29