1:1 After the death of Saul,
1:3 David asked him, “Where are you coming from?” He replied, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”
1:4 David inquired, “How were things going?
1:11 David then grabbed his own clothes
1:13 David said to the young man who told this to him, “Where are you from?” He replied, “I am an Amalekite, the son of a resident foreigner.”
1:17 Then David chanted this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan.
1:18 (He gave instructions that the people of Judah should be taught “The Bow.”
1:19 The beauty
How the mighty have fallen!
1:20 Don’t report it in Gath,
don’t spread the news in the streets of Ashkelon,
or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,
the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate!
1:21 O mountains of Gilboa,
may there be no dew or rain on you, nor fields of grain offerings!
For it was there that the shield of warriors was defiled;
the shield of Saul lies neglected without oil.
1:22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of warriors,
the bow of Jonathan was not turned away.
The sword of Saul never returned
1:23 Saul and Jonathan were greatly loved
and not even in their deaths were they separated.
They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
1:24 O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet
who put gold jewelry on your clothes.
1:25 How the warriors have fallen
in the midst of battle!
Jonathan lies slain on your high places!
1:26 I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan!
You were very dear to me.
Your love was more special to me than the love of women.
1:27 How the warriors have fallen!
The weapons of war
2:1 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,
David was told,
2:8 Now Abner son of Ner, the general in command of Saul’s army, had taken Saul’s son Ish-bosheth
2:12 Then Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
2:13 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.
2:14 Abner said to Joab, “Let the soldiers get up and fight
2:15 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.
2:16 As they grappled with one another, each one stabbed his opponent with his sword and they fell dead together.
2:17 Now the battle was very severe that day; Abner and the men of Israel were overcome by David’s soldiers.
2:20 Then Abner turned and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?” He replied, “Yes it is!”
2:21 Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right or to your left. Capture one of the soldiers
2:24 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.
2:25 The Benjaminites formed their ranks
2:26 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?”
2:27 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
2:30 Now Joab returned from chasing Abner and assembled all the people. Nineteen of David’s soldiers were missing, in addition to Asahel.
2:31 But David’s soldiers had slaughtered the Benjaminites and Abner’s men – in all, 360 men had died!
2:32 They took Asahel’s body and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem.
3:2 Now sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born to Ahinoam the Jezreelite.
3:3 His second son