2 Samuel 2

Highlighted words differ from the WEB. Most differences are matters of wording, style or the age of the English, not of meaning; a few reflect different manuscripts.

WEB KJV

1
WEBAfter this, David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” Yahweh said to him, “Go up.” David said, “Where shall I go up?” He said, “To Hebron.”
KJVAnd it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.
2
WEBSo David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
KJVSo David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite.
3
WEBDavid brought up his men who were with him, every man with his household. They lived in the cities of Hebron.
KJVAnd his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
4
WEBThe men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were those who buried Saul.”
KJVAnd the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.
5
WEBDavid sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, “Blessed are you by Yahweh, that you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him.
KJVAnd David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.
6
WEBNow may Yahweh show loving kindness and truth to you. I also will reward you for this kindness, because you have done this thing.
KJVAnd now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.
7
WEBNow therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.”
KJVTherefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.
8
WEBNow Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, had taken Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.
KJVBut Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;
9
WEBHe made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
KJVAnd made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
10
WEBIshbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
KJVIsh-bosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
11
WEBThe time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
KJVAnd the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
12
WEBAbner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
KJVAnd Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
13
WEBJoab the son of Zeruiah and David’s servants went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.
KJVAnd Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.
14
WEBAbner said to Joab, “Please let the young men arise and compete before us!” Joab said, “Let them arise!”
KJVAnd Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
15
WEBThen they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of David’s servants.
KJVThen there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
16
WEBThey each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.
KJVAnd they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
17
WEBThe battle was very severe that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before David’s servants.
KJVAnd there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
18
WEBThe three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle.
KJVAnd there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
19
WEBAsahel pursued Abner. He didn’t turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.
KJVAnd Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
20
WEBThen Abner looked behind him and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” He answered, “It is.”
KJVThen Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.
21
WEBAbner said to him, “Turn away to your right hand or to your left, and grab one of the young men, and take his armor.” But Asahel would not turn away from following him.
KJVAnd Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.
22
WEBAbner said again to Asahel, “Turn away from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I look Joab your brother in the face?”
KJVAnd Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?
23
WEBHowever, he refused to turn away. Therefore Abner with the back end of the spear struck him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there and died in the same place. As many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
KJVHowbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
24
WEBBut Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. The sun went down when they had come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
KJVJoab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
25
WEBThe children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill.
KJVAnd the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.
26
WEBThen Abner called to Joab, and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Don’t you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long will it be then, before you ask the people to return from following their brothers?”
KJVThen Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
27
WEBJoab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then in the morning the people would have gone away, and not each followed his brother.”
KJVAnd Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.
28
WEBSo Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still and pursued Israel no more, and they fought no more.
KJVSo Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
29
WEBAbner and his men went all that night through the Arabah; and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim.
KJVAnd Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.
30
WEBJoab returned from following Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen men of David’s and Asahel were missing.
KJVAnd Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.
31
WEBBut David’s servants had struck Benjamin and Abner’s men so that three hundred sixty men died.
KJVBut the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.
32
WEBThey took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was in Bethlehem. Joab and his men went all night, and the day broke on them at Hebron.
KJVAnd they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

World English Bible (WEB), public domain. “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org.
King James Version (1769 text), public domain outside the United Kingdom, where Crown letters patent apply.