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.
16. Each man caught his opponent by the head and plunged his sword into his opponent's side, so that all 24 of them fell down dead together. And so that place in Gibeon is called “Field of Swords”.
17. Then a furious battle broke out, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated by David's men.
18. The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel, who could run as fast as a wild deer,
19. started chasing Abner, running straight for him.
20. Abner looked back and said, “Is that you, Asahel?”“Yes,” he answered.
21. “Stop chasing me!” Abner said. “Run after one of the soldiers and take what he has.” But Asahel kept on chasing him.
22. Once more Abner said to him, “Stop chasing me! Why force me to kill you? How could I face your brother Joab?”