young men and take thee his spoils. But Asael
would not leave off following him close.

2:22. And again Abner said to Asael: Go off, and do not follow me, lest
I be obliged to stab thee to the ground, and I shall not be able to hold
up my face to Joab thy brother.

2:23. But he refused to hearken to him, and would not turn aside:
wherefore Abner struck him with his spear with a back stroke in the
groin, and thrust him through, and he died upon the spot: and all that
came to the place where Asael fell down and died stood still.

2:24. Now while Joab and Abisai pursued after Abner, the sun went down:
and they came as far as the hill of the aqueduct, that lieth over
against the valley by the way of the wilderness in Gabaon.

2:25. And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together to
Abner: and being joined in one body, they stood on the top of a hill.

2:26. And Abner cried out to Joab, and said: Shall thy sword rage unto
utter destruction? knowest thou not that it is dangerous to drive people
to despair? how long dost thou defer to bid the people cease from
pursuing after their brethren?

2:27. And Joab said: As the Lord liveth, if thou hadst spoke sooner,
even in the morning the people should have retired from pursuing after
their brethren.

2:28. Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and all the army stood still, and
did not pursue after Israel any farther, nor fight any more.

2:29. And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plains:
and they passed the Jordan, and having gone through all Beth-horon, came
to the camp.

2:30. And Joab returning, after he had left Abner, assembled all the
people: and there were wanting of David's servants nineteen men, beside
Asael.

2:31. But the servants of David had killed of Benjamin, and of the men
that were with Abner, three hundred and sixty, who all died.

2:32. And they took Asael, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father
in Bethlehem and Joab, and the men that were with him, marched all the
night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

2 Kings Chapter 3

David groweth daily stronger. Abner cometh over to him: he is
treacherously slain by Joab.

3:1. Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of
David: David prospering and growing always stronger and stronger, but
the house of Saul decaying daily.

There was a long war between the house of Saul, etc... Rather a strife
or emulation than a war with arms; it lasted five