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still honoured him. His faith and loyalty had endured through seven years of trial; though wronged and persecuted, his heart was loyal still. When he mourned for Jonathan his friend, who had loved him as his own soul, he mourned also for Saul, the anointed of the Lord, and joined the praises of his strength and courage with those of Jonathan his son. And he taught the people of his own tribe-the tribe of Judah-to use the Psalm of mourning which he had made, that they might honour the memory of Jonathan and of Saul.

And when the day of mourning was passed, David inquired of the Lord whether he should go up into any of the cities of Judah. And the Lord answered, that he should go up to Hebron. So David went up from Ziklag to Hebron, in the land of Judah; and he took with him his wives, and all his household, and all the men that were with him.

Then the men of Judah came to David to Hebron, and there they anointed him king over the tribe of Judah. And he dwelt at Hebron, and reigned over his own tribe-the tribe of Judah.

B.C.

1055.

B.C.

1053.

But Abner, the son of Ner, the captain of the army of Saul, took Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, to Mahanaim, which was on the other side of the Jordan, and made him king over the land of Gilead, and over all the tribes of Israel except the tribe of Judah. And Ishbosheth dwelt at Mahanaim, and reigned over all the land of Israel that was on the other side of the Jordan, while David was king in Hebron over the tribe of Judah. Ishbosheth continued to dwell at Mahanaim, for fear of the Philistines; for after they had destroyed the army of Saul at Jezreel, they kept possession of many cities in that part of the land of Israel.

After Ishbosheth had reigned two years, Abner went forth from Mahanaim with his men of war, and crossed the Jordan, and came to Gibeon, which was on the border of the land of Judah. Then Joab, the son of Zeruiah, the captain of David's army, went forth with a company of his men, to keep them from entering into the land of Judah. And they sat down by the side of a pool at Gibeon, while Abner and his men were on the other side. Then Abner challenged the men of

Joab to fight; so they fought, and the men of Israel fled before the men of Judah, and many of them were slain; but Abner slew Asahel, the brother of Joab.

From this time there was war between the men who followed Ishbosheth and the house of David; but the kingdom of David grew stronger and stronger, while Ishbosheth and his people grew weaker and weaker.

2 Samuel ii. iii. 1.

Chapter Exx.

THE DEATH OF ISHBOSHETH, AND THE OVER-
THROW OF HIS KINGDOM.

1048.

AFTER Ishbosheth had reigned about seven years B.C. at Mahanaim, Abner, the captain of his army, turned from him to David. He was very wroth because Ishbosheth had rebuked him for a wrong deed which he had done; and in his anger, he swore that he would take the kingdom from Ishbosheth, and set up the house of David over all Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba. So he sent

messengers to David, and said, that if he would make a league with him, he would turn all Israel to him. And David said that he would make league with Abner, if he would first send back to him Michal his wife, the daughter of Saul. Then David sent to Ishbosheth, to ask him to send Michal his wife back to him; and Ishbosheth gave Abner leave to take her back to David.

Then Abner took Michal the daughter of Saul, and went forth to David at Hebron. And as he went he spoke to the elders of Israel, and said, "Ye sought for David, in time past, to be king over you; now then do it. For the Lord hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David will I save my people out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of their enemies." And when he came to Hebron, David received him with honour, and made a feast for him, and for the men that were with him. Then Abner said that he would go and gather all the elders of Israel together to David, that he might make a covenant with them, and reign over them. And David sent him forth in peace.

But after Abner had departed, Joab, the captain of David's army, returned from pursuing the enemies of David; and when he heard that Abner had been with David, and that he had gone forth again in peace, he was very wroth. And he sent messengers after him in David's name, to ask him to return. And when Abner had returned, Joab took him aside, as if to speak to him quietly; and while he spoke with him, he drew his sword secretly and slew him. Joab hated Abner because he had slain Asahel his brother; and he feared that if he should bring back the other tribes of Israel to David, he might be made chief captain under David instead of himself; therefore he slew him cruelly.

When David heard of the death of Abner, he said that he and his kingdom were guiltless before the Lord of the blood of Abner; and he prayed that it might rest upon the head of Joab, and not on him and on his people. Then he commanded Joab, and all the people that were with him, to rend their clothes, and gird themselves with sackcloth, and mourn before the body of

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