And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.

 2 So David went up thither, and his two ^awives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.

 3 And his ^amen that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

 4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed ^aDavid king over the house of ^bJudah. And they told David, saying, That the men of ^cJabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.

 5 And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the Lord, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.

 6 And now the Lord shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will ^arequite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.

 7 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye ^avaliant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.

 8 But ^aAbner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

 9 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

 10 Ish-bosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.

 11 And the time that David was ^aking in Hebron over the house of ^bJudah was seven years and six months.

 12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

 13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.

 14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

 15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

 16 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called ^aHelkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.