r master Saul, and have buried him.

2:6. And now the Lord surely will render you mercy and truth, and I also
will requite you for this good turn, because you have done this thing.

2:7. Let your hands be strengthened, and be ye men of valour: for
although your master Saul be dead, yet the house of Juda hath anointed
me to be their king.

2:8. But Abner the son of Ner, general of Saul's army, took Isboseth the
son of Saul, and led him about through the camp,

2:9. And made him king over Galaad, and over Gessuri, and over Jezrahel,
and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

2:10. Isboseth the son of Saul was forty years old when he began to
reign over Israel, and he reigned two years; and only the house of Juda
followed David.

He reigned two years... Viz., before he began visibly to decline: but in
all he reigned seven years and six months; for so long David reigned in
Hebron.

2:11. And the number of the days that David abode, reigning in Hebron
over the house of Juda, was seven years and six months.

2:12. And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Isboseth the son of
Saul, went out from the camp to Gabaon.

2:13. And Joab the son of Sarvia, and the servants of David went out,
and met them by the pool of Gabaon. And when they were come together,
they sat down over against one another: the one on the one side of the
pool, and the other on the other side.

2:14. And Abner said to Joab: Let the young men rise, and play before
us. And Joab answered: Let them rise.

2:15. Then there arose and went over twelve in number of Benjamin, of
the part of Isboseth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of
David.

2:16. And every one catching his fellow by the head, thrust his sword
into the side of his adversary, and they fell down together: and the
name of the place was called: The field of the valiant, in Gabaon.

2:17. And there was a very fierce battle that day: and Abner was put to
flight, with the men of Israel, by the servants of David.

2:18. And there were the three sons of Sarvia there, Joab, and Abisai,
and Asael: now Asael was a most swift runner, like one of the roes that
abide in the woods.

2:19. And Asael pursued after Abner, and turned not to the right hand
nor to the left from following Abner.

2:20. And Abner looked behind him, and said: Art thou Asael? And he
answered: I am.

2:21. And Abner said to him: Go to the right hand or to the left, and
lay hold on one of the