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1. When Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, had heard of the death of
Abner, he took it to heart to be deprived of a man that was of
his kindred, and had indeed given him the kingdom, but was
greatly afflicted, and Abner's death very much troubled him; nor
did he himself outlive any long time, but was treacherously set
upon by the sons of Rimmon, (Baanah and Rechab were their names,)
and was slain by them; for these being of a family of the
Benjamites, and of the first rank among them, thought that if
they should slay Ishbosheth, they should obtain large presents
from David, and be made commanders by him, or, however, should
have some other trust committed to them. So when they once found
him alone, and asleep at noon, in an upper room, when none of his
guards were there, and when the woman that kept the door was not
watching, but was fallen asleep also, partly on account of the
labor she had undergone, and partly on account of the heat of the
day, these men went into the room in which Ishbosheth, Saul's
son, lay asleep, and slew him; they also cut off his head, and
took their journey all that night, and the next day, as supposing
themselves flying away from those they had injured, to one that
would accept of this action as a favor, and would afford them
security. So they came to Hebron, and showed David the head of
Ishbosheth, and presented themselves to him as his well-wishers,
and such as had killed one that was his enemy and antagonist. Yet
David did not relish what they had done as they expected, but
said to them, "You vile wretches, you shall immediately receive
the punishment you deserve. Did not you know what vengeance I
executed on him that murdered Saul, and brought me his crown of
gold, and this while he who made this slaughter did it as a favor
to him, that he might not be caught by his enemies? Or do you
imagine that I am altered in my disposition, and suppose that I
am not the same man I then was, but am pleased with men that are
wicked doers, and esteem your vile actions, when you are become
murderers of your master, as grateful to me, when you have slain
a righteous man upon his bed, who never did evil to any body, and
treated you with great good-will and respect? Wherefore you shall
suffer the punishment due on his account, and the vengeance I
ought to inflict upon you for killing Ishbosheth, and for
supposing that I should take his death kindly at your hands; for
you could not lay a greater blot on my honor, than by making such
a supposal." When David had said this, he tormented them with all
sorts of torments, and then put them to death; and he bestowed
all accustomed rites on the burial of the head of Ishbosheth, and
laid it in the grave of Abner.
2. When these things were brought to this conclusion, all the
principal men of the Hebrew people came to David to Hebron, with
the heads of thousands, and other rulers, and delivered
themselves up to him, putting him in mind of the good-will they
had borne to him in Saul's lifetime, and the respect they then
had not ceased to pay him when he was captain of a thousand, as
also that he was chosen of God by Samuel the prophet, he and his
sons; and declaring besides, how God had given him power to
save the land of the Hebrews, and to overcome the Philistines.
Whereupon he received kindly this their alacrity on his account;
and exhorted them to continue in it, for that they should have no
reason to repent of being thus disposed to him. So when he had
feasted them, and treated them kindly, he sent them out to bring
all the people to him; upon which came to him about six thousand
and eight hundred armed men of the tribe of Judah, who bare
shields and spears for their weapons, for these had [till now]
continued with Saul's son, when the rest of the tribe of Judah
had ordained David for their king. There came also seven thousand
and one hundred out of the tribe of Simeon. Out of the tribe of
Levi came four thousand and seven hundred, having Jehoiada for
their leader. After these came Zadok the high priest, with
twenty-two captains of his kindred. Out of the tribe of Benjamin
the armed men were four thousand; but the rest of the tribe
continued, still expecting that some one of the house of Saul
should reign over them. Those of the tribe of Ephraim were twenty
thousand and eight hundred, and these mighty men of valor, and
eminent for their strength. Out of the half tribe of Manasseh
came eighteen thousand, of the most potent men. Out of the tribe
of Issachar came two hundred, who foreknew what was to come
hereafter, but of armed men twenty thousand. Of the tribe of
Zebulon fifty thousand chosen men. This was the only tribe that
came universally in to David, and all these had the same weapons
with the tribe of Gad. Out of the tribe of Naphtali the eminent
men and rulers were one thousand, whose weapons were shields and
spears, and the tribe itself followed after, being (in a manner)
innumerable [thirty-seven thousand]. Out of the tribe of Dan
there were of chosen men twenty-seven thousand and six hundred.
Out of the tribe of Asher were forty thousand. Out of the two
tribes that were beyond Jordan, and the rest of the tribe of
Manasseh, such as used shields, and spears, and head-pieces, and
swords, were a hundred and twenty thousand. The rest of the
tribes also made use of swords. This multitude came together to
Hebron to David, with a great quantity of corn, and wine, and all
other sorts of food, and established David in his kingdom with
one consent. And when the people had rejoiced for three days in
Hebron, David and all the people removed and came to Jerusalem.
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