The king chanted the following lament for Abner: “Should Abner have died like a fool?

Asahel chased Abner, without turning to the right or to the left as he followed Abner.

When Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a banquet for Abner and the men who were with him.

So they buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly over Abner’s grave and all the people wept too.

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

Abner said to Joab, “Let the soldiers get up and fight before us.” Joab said, “So be it!”

Then Abner turned and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?” He replied, “Yes it is!”

But David’s soldiers had slaughtered the Benjaminites and Abner’s men – in all, 360 men had died!

Ish-bosheth was unable to answer Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him.

When Ish-bosheth the son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he was very disheartened, and all Israel was afraid.

Then Abner spoke privately with the Benjaminites. Abner also went to Hebron to inform David privately of all that Israel and the entire house of Benjamin had agreed to.

Abner said to David, “Let me leave so that I may go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make an agreement with you. Then you will rule over all that you desire.” So David sent Abner away, and he left in peace.

Now Abner son of Ner, the general in command of Saul’s army, had taken Saul’s son Ish-bosheth and had brought him to Mahanaim.

Now the battle was very severe that day; Abner and the men of Israel were overcome by David’s soldiers.

So Abner spoke again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me! I do not want to strike you to the ground. How then could I show my face in the presence of Joab your brother?”

The Benjaminites formed their ranks behind Abner and were like a single army, standing at the top of a certain hill.

Abner and his men went through the Arabah all that night. They crossed the Jordan River and went through the whole region of Bitron and came to Mahanaim.

Now Joab returned from chasing Abner and assembled all the people. Nineteen of David’s soldiers were missing, in addition to Asahel.

As the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was becoming more influential in the house of Saul.

Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you have sexual relations with my father’s concubine?”