Now be aware of this, and see what you can do. For disaster has been planned for our lord and his entire household. He is such a wicked person that no one tells him anything!”

God will severely punish David, if I leave alive until morning even one male from all those who belong to him!”

The Lord will do for my lord everything that he promised you, and he will make you a leader over Israel.

In the same way that I valued your life this day, may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all danger.”

Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented over him and had buried him in Ramah, his hometown. In the meantime Saul had removed the mediums and magicians from the land.

David took all the flocks and herds and drove them in front of the rest of the animals. People were saying, “This is David’s plunder!”

He said to me, ‘Stand over me and finish me off! I’m very dizzy, even though I’m still alive.’

He appointed him king over Gilead, the Geshurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all Israel.

Then Joab blew the ram’s horn and all the people stopped in their tracks. They stopped chasing Israel and ceased fighting.

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

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.

When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, Joab was told: “Abner the son of Ner came to the king; he sent him away, and he left in peace!”

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

Your hands were not bound, and your feet were not put into irons. You fell the way one falls before criminals.” All the people wept over him again.

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron saying, “Look, we are your very flesh and blood!

In Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned for thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months. The Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his family.

Therefore you are great, O Lord God, for there is none like you! There is no God besides you! What we have heard is true!

David placed garrisons in the territory of the Arameans of Damascus; the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The Lord protected David wherever he campaigned.

King David dedicated these things to the Lord, along with the dedicated silver and gold that he had taken from all the nations that he had subdued,