day with his companions in weeping and lamentation。 This grief
was augmented by the consideration of Jonathan； the son of Saul；
who had been his most faithful friend； and the occasion of his
own deliverance。 He also demonstrated himself to have such great
virtue； and such great kindness for Saul； as not only to take his
death to heart； though he had been frequently in danger of losing
his life by his means； but to punish him that slew him； for when
David had said to him that he was become his own accuser； as the
very man who had slain the king； and when he had understood that
he was the son of an Amalekite； he commanded him to be slain。 He
also committed to writing some lamentations and funeral
commendations of Saul and Jonathan； which have continued to my
own age。
2。 Now when David had paid these honors to the king； he left off
his mourning； and inquired of God by the prophet which of the
cities of the tribe of Judah he would bestow upon him to dwell
in； who answered that he bestowed upon him Hebron。 So he left
Ziklag； and came to Hebron； and took with him his wives； who were
in number two； and his armed men； whereupon all the people of the
forementioned tribe came to him； and ordained him their king。 But
when he heard that the inhabitants of Jabesh…gilead had buried
Saul and his sons ＇honorably＇； he sent to them and commended
them； and took what they had done kindly； and promised to make
them amends for their care of those that were dead； and at the
same time he informed them that the tribe of Judah had chosen him
for their king。
3。 But as soon as Abner； the son of Ner； who was general of
Saul's army； and a very active man； and good…natured； knew that
the king； and Jonathan； and his two other sons； were fallen in
the battle； he made haste into the camp； and taking away with him
the remaining son of Saul； whose name was Ishbosheth； he passed
over to the land beyond Jordan； and ordained him the king of the
whole multitude； excepting the tribe of Judah； and made his royal
seat in a place called in our own language Mahanaim； but in the
language of the Grecians； The Camps； from whence Abner made haste
with a select body of soldiers； to fight with such of the tribe
of Judah as were disposed to it； for he was angry that this tribe
had set up David for their king。 But Joab； whose father was Suri；
and his mother Zeruiah； David's sister； who was general of
David's army； met him； according to David's appointment。 He had
with him his brethren； Abistiai and Asahel； as also all David's
armed men。 Now when he met Abner at a certain fountain； in the
city of Gibeon； he prepared to fight。 And when Abner said to him；
that he had a mind to know which of them had the more valiant
soldiers； it was agreed between them that twelve soldiers of each
side should fight together。 So those that were chosen out by both
the generals for this fight came between the two armies； and
throwing their lances one against the other； they drew their
swords； and catching one another by the head； they held one
another fast； and ran each other's swords into their sides and
groins； until they all； as it were by mutual agreement； perished
together。 When these were fallen down dead； the rest of the army
came to a sore battle； and Abner's men were beaten； and when they
were beaten； Joab did not leave off pursuing them； but he pressed
upon them； and excited the soldiers to follow them close； and not
to grow weary of killing them。 His brethren also pursued them
with great alacrity； especially the younger； Asahel； who was the
most eminent of them。 He was very famous for his swiftness of
foot； for he could not only be too hard for men； but is reported
to have overrun a horse； when they had a race together。 This
Asahel ran violently after Abner； and would not turn in the least
out of the straight way； either to the one side or to the other。
Hereupon Abner turned back； and attempted artfully to avoid his
violence。 Sometimes he bade him leave off the pursuit； and take
the armor of one of his soldiers； and sometimes； when he could
not persuade him so to do； he exhorted him to restrain himself；
and not to pursue him any longer； lest he should force him to
kill him； and he should then not be able to look his brother in
the face： but when Asahel would not admit of any persuasions； but
still continued to pursue him； Abner smote him with his spear； as
he held it in his flight； and that by a back…stroke； and gave him
a deadly wound； so that he died immediately； but those that were
with him pursuing Abner； when they came to the place where Asahel
lay； they stood round about the dead body； and left off the
pursuit of the enemy。 However； both Joab （1） himself； and his
brother Abishai； ran past the dead corpse； and making their anger
at the death of Asahel an occasion of greater zeal against Abner；
they went on with incredible haste and alacrity； and pursued
Abner to a certain place called Ammah： it was about sun…set。 Then
did Joab ascend a certain hill； as he stood at that place； having
the tribe of Benjamin with him； whence he took a view of them；
and of Abner also。 Hereupon Abner cried aloud； and said that it
was not fit that they should irritate men of the same nation to
fight so bitterly one against another； that as for Asahel his
brother； he was himself in the wrong； when he would not be
advised by him not to pursue him any farther； which was the
occasion of his wounding and death。 So Joab consented to what he
said； and accepted these his words as an excuse ＇about Asahel＇；
and called the soldiers back with the sound of the trumpet； as a
signal for their retreat； and thereby put a stop to any further
pursuit。 After which Joab pitched his camp there that night； but
Abner marched all that night； and passed over the river Jordan；
and came to Ishbosheth； Saul's son； to Mahanaim。 On the next day
Joab counted the dead men； and took care of all their funerals。
Now there were slain of Abner's soldiers about three hundred and
sixty； but of those of David nineteen； and Asahel； whose body
Joab and Abishai carried to Bethlehem； and when they had buried
him in the sepulcher of their fathers； they came to David to
Hebron。 From this time therefore there began an intestine war；
which lasted a great while； in which the followers of David grew
stronger in the dangers they underwent； and the servants and
subjects of Saul's sons did almost every day become weaker。
4。 About this time David was become the father of six sons； born
of as many mothers。 The eldest was by Ahinoam； and he was called
Arenon； the second was Daniel； by his wife Abigail； the name of
the third was Absalom； by Maacah； the daughter of Talmai； king of
Geshur； the fourth he named Adonijah； by his wife Haggith； the
fifth was Shephatiah； by Abital； the sixth he called Ithream； by
Eglah。 Now while this intestine war went on； and the subjects of
the two kings came frequently to action and to fighting； it was
Abner； the general of the host of Saul's son； who； by his
prudence； and the great interest he had among the multitude； made
them all continue with Ishbosheth； and indeed it was a
considerable time that they continued of his party； but
afterwards Abner was blamed； and an accusation was laid against
him； that he went in unto Saul's concubine： her name was Rispah；
the daughter of Aiah。 So when he was complained of by Ishbosheth；
he was very uneasy and angry at it； because he had not justice
done him by Ishbosheth； to whom he had shown the greatest
kindness； whereupon he threatened to transfer the kingdom to
David； and demonstrate that he did not rule over the people
beyond Jordan by his own abilities and wisdom； but by his warlike
conduct and fidelity in leading his army。 So he sent ambassadors
to Hebron to David； and desired that he would give him security
upon oath that he would esteem him his companion and his friend；
upon condition that he should persuade the people to leave Saul's
son； and choose him king of the whole country； and when David had
made that league with Abner； for he was pleased with his message
to him； he desired that he would give this as the first mark of
performance of the present league； that he might have his wife
Michal restored to him； as her whom he had purchased with great
hazards； and with those six hundred heads of the Philistines
which he had brought to Saul her father。 So Abner took Michal
from Phaltiel； who was then her husband； and sent her to David；
Ishbosheth himself affording him his assistance； for David had
written to him that of right he ought to have this his wife
restored to him。 Abner also called together the elders of the
multitude； the commanders and captains of thousands； and spake
thus to them： That he had formerly dissuaded them from their own
resolution； when they were ready to forsake Ishbosheth； and to
join themselves to David； that； however； he now gave them leave
so to do； if they had a mind to it； for they knew that God had
appointed David to be king of all the Hebrews by Samuel the
prophet； and had foretold that he should punish the Philistines；
and overcome them； and bring them under。 Now when the elders and
rulers heard this； and understood that Abner was come over to
those sentiments about the public affairs which they were of
before； they changed their measures； and came in to David。 When
these men had agreed to Abner's proposal； he called together the
tribe of Benjamin； for all of that tribe were the guards of
Ishbosheth's body； and he spake to them to the same purpose。 And
when he saw that they did not in the least oppose what he said；
but resigned themselves up to his opinion； he took about twenty
of his friends and came to David； in order to receive himself
security upon oath from him； for we may justly esteem those
things to be firmer which every one of us do by ourselves； than
those which we do by another。 He also gave him an account of what
he had said to the rulers； and to the whole tribe of Benjamin；
and when David had received him in a courteous manner； and had
treated him with great hospitality for many days； Abner； when he
was dismissed； desired him to bring the multitude with him； that
he might deliver up the government t