Ancient Israel by Robert Alter

Author:Robert Alter
Format: epub
Publisher: NORTON

CHAPTER 2

And it happened afterward that David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up into one of the towns of Judah?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” And David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “To Hebron.” And David went up there, and his two wives as well, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And his men who were with him David brought up, each man and his household, and they settled in Hebron. And the men of Judah came and anointed David there as king over the house of Judah.

And they told David, saying, “It was the men of Jabesh-Gilead who buried Saul.” And David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-Gilead and said to them, “Blessed are you to the LORD, that you have done this kindness with your lord, with Saul, and have buried him. And now, may the LORD show faithful kindness to you, and I on my part as well shall do this bounty for you because you have done this thing. And now, may your hands be strengthened and be you men of valor, for your lord Saul is dead, and it is I whom the house of Judah has anointed as king over them.”

And Abner son of Ner commander of Saul’s army had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim and made him king over Gilead and over the Asherite and over Jezreel and over Ephraim and over Benjamin and over Israel altogether. Forty years old was Ish-Bosheth when he became king over Israel, and two years did he reign. But the house of Judah followed David. And the span of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

And Abner son of Ner with the servants of Ish-Bosheth sallied forth from Mahanaim to Gibeon. And Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David had sallied forth, and they met each other by the pool of Gibeon, and they took up their positions on either side of the pool. And Abner said to Joab, “Pray, let the lads arise and play before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.” And they arose and crossed over—twelve in number for Benjamin and for Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and twelve from the servants of David. And each man grasped the head of the other with his sword at the side of the other, and they fell together. And they called that place the Field of Flints, which is in Gibeon. And the fighting was very fierce on that day, and Abner with the men of Israel were routed by the servants of David. And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was as swift-footed as one of the gazelles of the open field. And Asahel chased after Abner, and he swerved not to the right or left in going after Abner. And Abner turned round and said, “Are you Asahel?” And he said, “I am.

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