8. The commander of Saul's army, Abner son of Ner, had fled with Saul's son Ishbosheth across the Jordan to Mahanaim.
9. There Abner made Ishbosheth king of the territories of Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin, and indeed over all Israel.
10. He was forty years old when he was made king of Israel, and he ruled for two years.But the tribe of Judah was loyal to David,
11. and he ruled in Hebron over Judah for seven and a half years.
12. Abner and the officials of Ishbosheth went from Mahanaim to the city of Gibeon.
13. Joab, whose mother was Zeruiah, and David's other officials met them at the pool, where they all sat down, one group on one side of the pool and the other group on the opposite side.
14. Abner said to Joab, “Let's get some of the young men from each side to fight an armed contest.”“All right,” Joab answered.
15. So twelve men, representing Ishbosheth and the tribe of Benjamin, fought twelve of David's men.