David Anointed King Over Judah
1In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked.
The Lord said, “Go up.”
David asked, “Where shall I go?”
“To Hebron,” the Lord answered.
2So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. 4Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah.
When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, 5he sent messengers to them to say to them, “The Lord bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. 6May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. 7Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them.”
War Between the Houses of David and Saul
8Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. 9He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.
10Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David. 11The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months.
12Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. 13Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side.
14Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us.”
“All right, let them do it,” Joab said.
15So they stood up and were counted off—twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. 16Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent’s side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.2:16 Helkath Hazzurim means field of daggers or field of hostilities.
17The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated by David’s men.
18The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle. 19He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him. 20Abner looked behind him and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?”
“It is,” he answered.
21Then Abner said to him, “Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.
22Again Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?”
23But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.
24But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon. 25Then the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill.
26Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?”
27Joab answered, “As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued pursuing them until morning.”
28So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the troops came to a halt; they no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore.
29All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, continued through the morning hours2:29 See Septuagint; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain. and came to Mahanaim.
30Then Joab stopped pursuing Abner and assembled the whole army. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David’s men were found missing. 31But David’s men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner. 32They took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.
Daudi Atiwa Mafuta Kuwa Mfalme Wa Yuda
12:1 1Sam 23:2, 11-12; Mwa 13:18; 23:19; 1Sam 30:31; Hes 27:21; 1Sam 23:2-9; 1Fal 2:11Ikawa baada ya mambo haya, Daudi akamuuliza Bwana, “Je, nipande kwenda katika mojawapo ya miji ya Yuda?”
Bwana akasema, “Panda.”
Daudi akauliza, “Je, niende wapi?”
Bwana akajibu, “Nenda Hebroni.”
22:2 1Sam 25:42-43; 30:5Basi Daudi akakwea kwenda huko pamoja na wake zake wawili, Ahinoamu wa Yezreeli na Abigaili, mjane wa Nabali wa Karmeli. 32:3 1Sam 27:2; 1Nya 12:22; Mwa 13:18; 23:2; 37:14Pia Daudi akawachukua watu waliokuwa pamoja naye, kila mmoja na jamaa yake, nao wakaishi huko Hebroni na miji yake. 42:4 1Sam 30:31; 2:35; 2Sam 5:3-5; 1Nya 12:23-40; Amu 21:8; 1Sam 11:1; 31:11-13Ndipo watu wa Yuda wakaja Hebroni, huko wakamtia Daudi mafuta awe mfalme juu ya nyumba ya Yuda.
Daudi alipoambiwa kuwa ni watu wa Yabeshi-Gileadi waliomzika Sauli, 52:5 Amu 17:2; 1Sam 23:21; 2Tim 1:16; Za 115:15akatuma wajumbe kwa watu wa Yabeshi-Gileadi kuwaambia, “Bwana awabariki kwa kuonyesha wema huu kwa kumzika Sauli bwana wenu. 62:6 Kut 34:6; 2Tim 1:16; Mt 5:44Sasa Bwana na awaonyeshe wema na uaminifu, nami pia nitawaonyesha wema ule ule kwa kuwa mmefanya jambo hili. 72:7 Yos 1:6; Amu 5:21Sasa basi, kuweni hodari na mashujaa, kwa maana bwana wenu Sauli amekufa, nayo nyumba ya Yuda imenitia mafuta niwe mfalme juu yao.”
Vita Kati Ya Nyumba Ya Daudi Na Sauli
82:8 1Sam 14:50; 2Sam 3:27; 4:5; 1Nya 8:33; 9:36-39; Mwa 32:2; 1Sam 17:55; 2Sam 17:27Wakati huo Abneri mwana wa Neri, jemadari wa jeshi la Sauli, alikuwa amemchukua Ish-Boshethi mwana wa Sauli na kumleta hadi Mahanaimu. 92:9 Hes 32:26; Yos 19:24-31; 1Nya 12:29; Amu 1:32Akamweka awe mfalme juu ya nchi ya Gileadi, Waasheri,2:9 Waasheri hapa ni kabila moja la Israeli. Yezreeli, Efraimu, Benyamini na Israeli yote.
10Ish-Boshethi2:10 Ish-Boshethi maana yake Mtu wa Aibu, pia anaitwa Esh-Baali maana yake Mtu wa Baali (1Nya 8:33; 9:39). mwana wa Sauli alikuwa na umri wa miaka arobaini alipoanza kutawala Israeli, naye akatawala miaka miwili. Hata hivyo, nyumba ya Yuda ikamfuata Daudi. 112:11 2Sam 5:5Muda ambao Daudi alikuwa mfalme juu ya nyumba ya Yuda huko Hebroni ilikuwa miaka saba na miezi sita.
122:12 Yos 9:3; 18:25; Isa 28:21Abneri mwana wa Neri, pamoja na watu wa Ish-Boshethi mwana wa Sauli, wakatoka Mahanaimu kwenda Gibeoni. 132:13 2Sam 8:16; 19:13; 1Fal 1:17; 1Nya 2:16; 22:6; 27:34; Yer 41:12Yoabu mwana wa Seruya na watu wa Daudi wakatoka na kukutana nao kwenye bwawa la Gibeoni. Kikundi kimoja kiliketi upande mmoja wa bwawa, na kikundi kingine upande wa pili.
142:14 Mit 10:23; 13:10Ndipo Abneri akamwambia Yoabu, “Tuwaweke baadhi ya vijana wasimame na wapigane ana kwa ana mbele yetu.”
Yoabu akasema, “Sawa, na wafanye hivyo.”
15Kwa hiyo vijana wakasimama, wakahesabiwa: watu wa Benyamini na wa Ish-Boshethi mwana wa Sauli kumi na wawili, na upande wa Daudi kumi na wawili. 162:16 Amu 3:21Kisha kila mtu akakamatana na mpinzani wake kichwani na kuchomana kwa upanga, nao wakaanguka chini pamoja. Kwa hiyo mahali pale katika Gibeoni pakaitwa Helkath-Hasurimu.2:16 Helkath-Hasurimu maana yake Uwanja wa Mapambano.
172:17 2Sam 3:1; 1Sam 17:8; 1Fal 20:11Siku hiyo vita vilikuwa vikali sana, naye Abneri na watu wa Israeli wakashindwa na watu wa Daudi.
182:18 2Sam 3:39; 16:10; 19:22; 3:30; 10:7; 11:1; 14:1; 18:14; 20:8; 24:3; 1Fal 1:7; 2:5, 34; 1Sam 26:6; 2Sam 23:24; 2Nya 2:16; 1Nya 11:26; 27:1; 12:8; Za 6:5; Wim 2:9Wana watatu wa Seruya walikuwako huko: nao ni Yoabu, Abishai na Asaheli. Basi huyo Asaheli alikuwa na mbio kama paa. 19Asaheli akamfukuza Abneri, pasipo kugeuka kulia wala kushoto wakati akimfuata. 20Abneri akaangalia nyuma na kumuuliza, “Ni wewe, Asaheli?”
Akamjibu, “Ndiyo.”
212:21 1Sam 17:42Ndipo Abneri akamwambia, “Geuka upande wa kulia au kushoto. Mchukue mmoja wa vijana wa kiume na umvue silaha zake.” Lakini Asaheli hakuacha kumfukuza.
222:22 2Sam 3:27Abneri akamwonya tena Asaheli akimwambia, “Acha kunifukuza! Kwa nini nikuue? Je, nitawezaje kumtazama ndugu yako Yoabu usoni?”
232:23 2Sam 3:27; 4:6; 20:17Lakini Asaheli alikataa kuacha kumfuatia, kwa hiyo Abneri akamchoma Asaheli tumboni kwa ncha butu ya mkuki wake, mkuki ukamtoboa ukatokea mgongoni mwake. Akaanguka na kufa papo hapo. Ikawa kila mtu alisimama alipofika mahali pale Asaheli alipoanguka na kufa.
242:24 Yos 9:3; 10:2Lakini Yoabu na Abishai walimfuata Abneri, na jua lilipokuwa linatua, wakafika kwenye kilima cha Ama, karibu na Gia kwenye njia ya kuelekea kwenye nyika ya Gibeoni. 25Ndipo watu wa kabila la Benyamini wakakusanyika tena nyuma ya Abneri. Wakaunda kikosi na kujiimarisha juu ya kilima.
262:26 Kum 32:42; Yer 46:10, 14; Nah 2:13; 3:15; Ay 18:2; 19:2; Za 4:2; Mdo 7:16Abneri akamwita Yoabu, akamwambia, “Je, ni lazima upanga uendelee kuangamiza milele? Hutambui kwamba jambo hili litaishia katika uchungu? Utaacha kuwaagiza watu wako waache kuwafuatilia ndugu zao hata lini?”
272:27 Mit 17:14; 20:18; Lk 14:31-32Yoabu akajibu, “Hakika kama aishivyo Mungu, kama hukusema, hawa watu wangeendelea kuwafuatia ndugu zao mpaka asubuhi.”
282:28 2Sam 18:16; 20:23; Amu 3:27Basi Yoabu akapiga tarumbeta, nao watu wote wakasimama, hawakuwafuata Israeli tena, wala hawakuwapiga tena.
292:29 Kum 3:17; Mwa 32:2; Wim 2:17; Yos 21:38; 2Sam 17:24Usiku ule wote Abneri na watu wake wakatembea kupitia Araba. Wakavuka Mto Yordani, wakaendelea wakipitia nchi yote ya Bithroni wakafika Mahanaimu.
30Basi Yoabu akarudi kutoka kumfuatia Abneri, na kuwakusanya watu wake wote. Pamoja na Asaheli, watu kumi na tisa wa Daudi walikuwa wamepotea. 31Lakini watu wa Daudi walikuwa wamewaua watu wa kabila la Benyamini 360 waliokuwa pamoja na Abneri. 322:32 Mwa 49:29; 47:29-30; Amu 8:32; 2Sam 17:24Wakamchukua Asaheli, wakamzika katika kaburi la baba yake huko Bethlehemu. Kisha Yoabu na watu wake wakatembea usiku kucha na kufika huko Hebroni wakati wa mapambazuko.
