8. Meanwhile, Abner, Ner’s son, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, and brought him over to Mahanaim.
9. There he made him king over Gilead, the Geshurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel.
10. Saul’s son Ishbosheth was 40 years old when he became king over Israel, and he ruled for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.
11. The amount of time David ruled in Hebron over the house of Judah totaled seven and a half years.
12. Abner, Ner’s son, along with the soldiers of Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, left Mahanaim to go to Gibeon.
13. Joab, Zeruiah’s son, and David’s soldiers also came out and confronted them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat on one side of the pool; the other sat on the opposite side of the pool.
14. Abner said to Joab, "Let’s have the young men fight in a contest before us.""All right," Joab said, "let’s do it."
15. So the men came forward and were counted as they passed by: twelve for Benjamin and Ishbosheth, Saul’s son; and twelve of David’s soldiers.