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2 Samuel 2
New English Translation

David is Anointed King

2 Afterward David inquired of the Lord, “Should I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” The Lord told him, “Go up.” David asked, “Where should I go?” The Lord replied,[a] “To Hebron.” 2 So David went up, along with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail, formerly the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 3 David also brought along the men who were with him, each with his family. They settled in the cities[b] of Hebron. 4 The men of Judah came and there they anointed David as king over the people[c] of Judah.

David was told,[d] “The people[e] of Jabesh Gilead are the ones who buried Saul.” 5 So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh Gilead and told them, “May you be blessed by the Lord because you have shown this kindness[f] to your lord Saul by burying him. 6 Now may the Lord show you true kindness![g] I also will reward you,[h] because you have done this deed. 7 Now be courageous[i] and prove to be valiant warriors, for your lord Saul is dead. The people of Judah have anointed me as king over them.”

David’s Army Clashes with the Army of Saul

8 Now Abner son of Ner, the general in command of Saul’s army, had taken Saul’s son Ish Bosheth[j] and had brought him to Mahanaim. 9 He appointed him king over Gilead, the Geshurites,[k] Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all Israel. 10 Ish Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he began to rule over Israel. He ruled two years. However, the people[l] of Judah followed David. 11 David was king in Hebron over the people of Judah for seven-and-a-half years.[m]

12 Then Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish Bosheth son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David also went out and confronted them at the pool of Gibeon. One group stationed themselves on one side of the pool, and the other group on the other side of the pool. 14 Abner said to Joab, “Let the soldiers get up and fight[n] before us.” Joab said, “So be it!”[o]

15 So they got up and crossed over by number: twelve belonging to Benjamin and to Ish Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David. 16 As they grappled with one another, each one stabbed his opponent with his sword and they fell dead together.[p] So that place is called the Field of Flints;[q] it is in Gibeon.

17 Now the battle was very severe that day; Abner and the men of Israel were overcome by David’s soldiers.[r] 18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there—Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. (Now Asahel was as quick on his feet as one of the gazelles in the field.) 19 Asahel chased Abner, without turning to the right or to the left as he followed Abner.

20 Then Abner turned and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?” He replied, “Yes it is!” 21 Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right or to your left. Capture one of the soldiers[s] and take his equipment for yourself!” But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him. 22 So Abner spoke again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me! I do not want to strike you to the ground.[t] How then could I show[u] my face in the presence of Joab your brother?” 23 But Asahel[v] refused to turn aside. So Abner struck him in the abdomen with the back end of his[w] spear. The spear came out his back; Asahel[x] collapsed on the spot and died there right before Abner.[y] Everyone who came to the place where Asahel fell dead paused in respect.[z]

24 So Joab and Abishai chased Abner. At sunset they came to the hill of Ammah near Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 The Benjaminites formed their ranks[aa] behind Abner and were like a single army, standing at the top of a certain hill.

26 Then Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will turn bitter in the end? When will you tell the people to turn aside from pursuing their brothers?” 27 Joab replied, “As surely as God lives, if you had not said this, it would have been morning before the people would have abandoned pursuit[ab] of their brothers.” 28 Then Joab blew the ram’s horn and all the people stopped in their tracks.[ac] They stopped chasing Israel and ceased fighting.[ad] 29 Abner and his men went through the rift valley[ae] all that night. They crossed the Jordan River[af] and went through the whole region of Bitron[ag] and came to Mahanaim.

30 Now Joab returned from chasing Abner and assembled all the people. Nineteen of David’s soldiers were missing, in addition to Asahel. 31 But David’s soldiers had slaughtered the Benjaminites and Abner’s men—in all, 360 men had died! 32 They took Asahel’s body and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Joab and his men then traveled all that night and reached Hebron by dawn.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 2:1 tn Heb “he said.” The referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
  2. 2 Samuel 2:3 tc The expression “the cities of Hebron” is odd; we would expect the noun to be in the singular, if used at all. Although the Syriac Peshitta has the expected reading “in Hebron,” the MT is clearly the more difficult reading and should probably be retained here.
  3. 2 Samuel 2:4 tn Heb “house.”
  4. 2 Samuel 2:4 tn Heb “and they told David.” The subject appears to be indefinite, allowing one to translate the verb as passive with David as subject.
  5. 2 Samuel 2:4 tn Heb “men.”
  6. 2 Samuel 2:5 tn Or “loyalty.”
  7. 2 Samuel 2:6 tn Or “loyalty and devotion.”
  8. 2 Samuel 2:6 tn Heb “will do with you this good.”
  9. 2 Samuel 2:7 tn Heb “let your hands be strong.”
  10. 2 Samuel 2:8 sn The name Ish Bosheth means in Hebrew “man of shame.” It presupposes an earlier form such as Ish Baal (“man of the Lord”), with the word “baal” being used of Israel’s God. But because the Canaanite storm god was named “Baal,” that part of the name was later replaced with the word “shame.”
  11. 2 Samuel 2:9 tc The MT here reads “the Ashurite,” but this is problematic if it is taken to mean “the Assyrian.” Ish Bosheth’s kingdom obviously was not of such proportions as to extend to Assyria. The Syriac Peshitta and the Vulgate render the word as “the Geshurite,” while the Targum has “of the house of Ashur.” We should probably emend the Hebrew text to read “the Geshurite.” The Geshurites lived in the northeastern part of the land of Palestine.
  12. 2 Samuel 2:10 tn Heb “house.”
  13. 2 Samuel 2:11 tn Heb “And the number of the days in which David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.”
  14. 2 Samuel 2:14 tn Heb “play.” What is in view here is a gladiatorial contest in which representative groups of soldiers engage in mortal combat before the watching armies. Cf. NAB “perform for us”; NASB “hold (have NRSV) a contest before us”; NLT “put on an exhibition of hand-to-hand combat.”
  15. 2 Samuel 2:14 tn Heb “let them arise.”
  16. 2 Samuel 2:16 tn Heb “and they grabbed each one the head of his neighbor with his sword in the side of his neighbor and they fell together.”
  17. 2 Samuel 2:16 tn The meaning of the name “Helkath Hazzurim” (so NIV; KJV, NASB, NRSV similar) is not clear. BHK relates the name to the Hebrew term for “side,” and this is reflected in NAB “the Field of the Sides”; the Greek OT revocalizes the Hebrew to mean something like “Field of Adversaries.” Cf. also TEV, NLT “Field of Swords”; CEV “Field of Daggers.”
  18. 2 Samuel 2:17 tn Heb “servants.” So also elsewhere.
  19. 2 Samuel 2:21 tn Heb “young men.” So also elsewhere.
  20. 2 Samuel 2:22 tn Heb “Why should I strike you to the ground?”
  21. 2 Samuel 2:22 tn Heb “lift.”
  22. 2 Samuel 2:23 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Asahel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  23. 2 Samuel 2:23 tn Heb “the.” The article functions here as a possessive pronoun.
  24. 2 Samuel 2:23 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Asahel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  25. 2 Samuel 2:23 tn Heb “him”; the referent (Abner) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  26. 2 Samuel 2:23 tn Heb “and they stand.”
  27. 2 Samuel 2:25 tn Heb “were gathered together.”
  28. 2 Samuel 2:27 tn The Hebrew verb נַעֲלָה (naʿalah) used here is the Niphal perfect third person masculine singular of עָלָה (ʿalah, “to go up”). In the Niphal this verb “is used idiomatically, of getting away from so as to abandon…especially of an army raising a siege…” (see S. R. Driver, Notes on the Hebrew Text and the Topography of the Books of Samuel, 244).
  29. 2 Samuel 2:28 tn Heb “stood.”
  30. 2 Samuel 2:28 tn Heb “they no longer chased after Israel and they no longer fought.”
  31. 2 Samuel 2:29 sn The rift valley is a large geographic feature extending from Galilee to the Gulf of Aqaba. Here only a section of the Jordan Valley is in view.
  32. 2 Samuel 2:29 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.
  33. 2 Samuel 2:29 tn Heb “and they went, all the Bitron.” The meaning of the Hebrew word “Bitron,” which is used only here in the OT, is disputed. The translation above follows BDB 144 s.v. בִּתְרוֹן in taking the word to be a proper name of an area east of the Jordan. A different understanding was advocated by W. R. Arnold, who took the word to refer to the forenoon or morning; a number of modern scholars and translations have adopted this view (cf. NAB, NASB, NRSV, CEV, NLT). See W. R. Arnold, “The Meaning of בתרון,” AJSL 28 (1911-1912): 274-83 and HALOT 167 s.v. In this case one could translate “and they traveled all morning long.”
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撒母耳记下 2
Chinese New Version (Traditional)

大衛受膏作猶大王

2 這事以後，大衛求問耶和華說：“我可以上猶大的一座城去嗎？”耶和華回答：“你上去吧。”大衛又問：“我應該上到哪裡去呢？”他回答：“上希伯崙去！” 2 於是大衛帶著他的兩個妻子，一個是耶斯列人亞希暖，一個是作過迦密人拿八妻子的亞比該，上到那裡去了。 3 大衛也把與他在一起的人，和他們各人的家眷都帶上去。他們就在希伯崙的城鎮裡住下來。 4 於是猶大人來到希伯崙，在那裡膏立了大衛作王，統治猶大家。

有人報告大衛說：“埋葬掃羅的是基列．雅比人。” 5 大衛就差派使者到基列．雅比人那裡去，對他們說：“願耶和華賜福給你們，因為你們厚待了你們的主掃羅，把他埋葬了。 6 你們既作了這事，現在就願耶和華以慈愛和誠實待你們，我也要善待你們。 7 現在你們要堅強，要作勇敢的人，因為你們的主掃羅已經死了；猶大家已經膏立了我作他們的王了。”

伊施波設作以色列王

8 當時，掃羅的元帥尼珥的兒子押尼珥已經領著掃羅的兒子伊施波設，把他帶過河到瑪哈念去， 9 並且立了他作王，統治基列、亞書利、耶斯列、以法蓮、便雅憫和以色列眾人。 10 掃羅的兒子伊施波設作以色列王的時候，已經四十歲；他作王共兩年。猶大家卻追隨大衛。 11 大衛在希伯崙作王統治猶大家的時候共有七年零六個月。

以色列家與猶大家之戰爭

12 尼珥的兒子押尼珥帶著掃羅的兒子伊施波設的僕從，離開瑪哈念，到基遍去。 13 洗魯雅的兒子約押和大衛的臣僕也出來，在基遍的水池旁邊與他們會面。大家都坐下，一隊在水池這邊，一隊在水池那邊。 14 押尼珥對約押說：“讓年輕人起來，在我們面前比比武。”約押說：“好！叫他們起來。” 15 他們就起來，按著人數走過去：屬便雅憫，就是屬掃羅的兒子伊施波設的，有十二人；屬大衛臣僕的也有十二人。 16 他們各人都緊緊抓住對手的頭，用刀刺進對手的肋旁，於是他們全都倒斃。所以在基遍那地方就叫作希利甲．哈素林。 17 那天的戰事非常激烈，結果押尼珥和以色列人敗在大衛的臣僕面前。

18 洗魯雅的三個兒子約押、亞比篩和亞撒黑都在那裡。亞撒黑的腿輕快如野地的羚羊一般。 19 亞撒黑追趕押尼珥，緊緊地跟著他，不偏左，也不偏右。 20 押尼珥往後瞧著，說：“你是亞撒黑嗎？”他回答：“我正是。” 21 押尼珥對他說：“你或轉左或轉右，抓住一個年輕人，奪去他的武器吧！”可是亞撒黑不願意離開不追趕他。 22 押尼珥再一次對亞撒黑說：“你離開，別追趕我！我為甚麼要把你砍倒在地上呢？以後怎麼還有臉見你的哥哥約押呢？” 23 亞撒黑不肯離開，所以押尼珥就用槍的尾端刺入了他的肚子，槍從他的背後穿出。亞撒黑仆倒在那裡，當場死了。所有來到亞撒黑倒斃的地方的人，都站住不動。

24 約押和亞比篩卻繼續追趕押尼珥。日落的時候，他們來到亞瑪山，就在通往基遍曠野的路旁，基亞的對面。 25 便雅憫人集結在押尼珥後面，站在一座山頭上，列成一個隊伍。 26 押尼珥對約押喊叫，說：“刀劍要不停地殺人嗎？你不知道結局是痛苦的嗎？你要等到甚麼時候才吩咐人民轉去，不追趕自己的兄弟呢？” 27 約押說：“我指著永活的　神起誓，如果你沒有說過比武的話，大家必在早晨的時候離去，不再追趕自己的兄弟。” 28 於是約押吹響號角，眾人就站住，不再追趕以色列人，也不再打仗了。 29 押尼珥和屬他的人，整夜走過亞拉巴，渡過約旦河，又走過畢倫，才回到瑪哈念。

30 約押追趕押尼珥回來，集合所有人的時候，發現在大衛的臣僕中，除了亞撒黑以外，還少了十九個人。 31 但大衛的臣僕擊殺便雅憫人和跟隨押尼珥的人，共有三百六十人死了。 32 他們把亞撒黑抬回去，埋葬在伯利恆他父親的墳墓裡。約押和屬他的人走了一整夜，天亮的時候才回到希伯崙。

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2 Samuel 2
New International Version

David Anointed King Over Judah

2 In the course of time, David inquired(A) 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,”(B) the Lord answered.

2 So David went up there with his two wives,(C) Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail,(D) the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 David also took the men who were with him,(E) each with his family, and they settled in Hebron(F) and its towns. 4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron,(G) and there they anointed(H) David king over the tribe of Judah.

When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead(I) who had buried Saul, 5 he sent messengers to them to say to them, “The Lord bless(J) you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. 6 May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness,(K) and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. 7 Now then, be strong(L) 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(M)

8 Meanwhile, Abner(N) son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth(O) son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.(P) 9 He made him king over Gilead,(Q) Ashuri(R) and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.(S)

10 Ish-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. 11 The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months.(T)

12 Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon.(U) 13 Joab(V) 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.

14 Then 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.

15 So they stood up and were counted off—twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. 16 Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger(W) into his opponent’s side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.[a]

17 The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated(X) by David’s men.(Y)

18 The three sons of Zeruiah(Z) were there: Joab,(AA) Abishai(AB) and Asahel.(AC) Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle.(AD) 19 He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him. 20 Abner looked behind him and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?”

“It is,” he answered.

21 Then 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.

22 Again Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?”(AE)

23 But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel’s stomach,(AF) 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.(AG)

24 But 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. 25 Then the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill.

26 Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour(AH) forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?”

27 Joab answered, “As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued pursuing them until morning.”

28 So Joab(AI) blew the trumpet,(AJ) and all the troops came to a halt; they no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore.

29 All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah.(AK) They crossed the Jordan, continued through the morning hours[b] and came to Mahanaim.(AL)

30 Then Joab stopped pursuing Abner and assembled the whole army. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David’s men were found missing. 31 But David’s men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner. 32 They took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb(AM) at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 2:16 Helkath Hazzurim means field of daggers or field of hostilities.
  2. 2 Samuel 2:29 See Septuagint; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
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