David is received and anointed King of Juda. 5. He commendeth those of Jabes Galaad, which had buried Saul. 8. Isboseth the son of Saul reigneth over the rest of Israel. 12. whereby riseth sharp War between Abner and Joab, chief captains of the two kings. 30. Many more are slain of Abner's party than of Joab's.Dauid is receiued and annointed King of Iuda. 5. He commendeth those of Iabes Galaad, which had buried Saul. 8. Isboseth the sonne of Saul reigneth ouer the rest of Israel. 12. whereby riseth sharpe Warre between Abner and Ioab, chief captaines of the two kinges. 30. Manie more are slaine of Abners partie then of Ioabs.✦
Therefore after these things David consulted our Lord, saying: Shall I go up into one of the cities of Juda? And our Lord said to him: Go up. And David said: whither shall I go up? And he answered him: Into Hebron.THEREFORE after these thinges Dauid consulted our Lord, saying: Shal I goe vp into one of the cities of Iuda? And our Lord said to him: Goe vp. And Dauid said: whither shal I goe vp? And he answered him: Into Hebron.✦Igitur post hæc consuluit David Dominum, dicens : Num ascendam in unam de civitatibus Juda ? Et ait Dominus ad eum : Ascende. Dixitque David : Quo ascendam ? Et respondit ei : In Hebron.
2David therefore went up, and his two wives, Achinoam the Jezrahelite, and Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel:Dauid therefore went vp, and his two wiues, Achinoam the Iezrahelite, and Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel:Ascendit ergo David, et duæ uxores ejus, Achinoam Jezraëlites, et Abigail uxor Nabal Carmeli :
3yea and the men also that were with him, David brought every one with his household: and they abode in the towns of Hebron.yea and the men also that were with him, Dauid brought euery one with his houshould: and they abode in the townes of Hebron.✦sed et viros, qui erant cum eo, duxit David singulos cum domo sua : et manserunt in oppidis Hebron.
4And the men of Juda came, and anointed David there, to reign over the house of Juda. And it was told David, that the men of Jabes Galaad had buried Saul.And the men of Iuda came, and annointed Dauid there, to reigne ouer the house of Iuda. And it was tould Dauid, that the men of Iabes Galaad had buried Saul.✦Veneruntque viri Juda, et unxerunt ibi David ut regnaret super domum Juda. Et nuntiatum est David quod viri Jabes Galaad sepelissent Saul.
5David therefore sent messengers unto the men of Jabes Galaad, and said unto them: Blessed be you of our Lord, which have done this mercy with your lord Saul, and have buried him.Dauid therefore sent messengers vnto the men of Iabes Galaad, and sayd vnto them: Blessed be you of our Lord, which haue done this mercie with your lord Saul, and haue buried him.Misit ergo David nuntios ad viros Jabes Galaad, dixitque ad eos : Benedicti vos Domino, qui fecistis misericordiam hanc cum domino vestro Saul, et sepelistis eum.
6And now our Lord quidem: assuredly, certainly will render you mercy and truth: but I also will requite you of the good turn, for that you have done this thing.And now our Lord certes wil render you mercie and truth: but I also wil requite you of the good turne, for that you haue done this thing.✦Et nunc retribuet vobis quidem Dominus misericordiam et veritatem : sed et ego reddam gratiam, eo quod fecistis verbum istud.
7Let your hands be strengthened, and be ye fortitudinis: brave and strong, not corpulent men: for although your lord be dead, yet the house of Juda hath anointed me to be their king.Let your handes be strengthned, and be yee stout men: for although your lord be dead, yet the house of Iuda hath annointed me to be their king.Confortentur manus vestræ, et estote filii fortitudinis : licet enim mortuus sit dominus vester Saul, tamen me unxit domus Juda in regem sibi.
8But Abner the son of Ner prince of Saul's army, took Isboseth the son of Saul, and led him about through the camp,But Abner the sonne of Ner prince of Sauls armie, tooke Isboseth the sonne of Saul, & led him about through the campe,✦Abner autem filius Ner, princeps exercitus Saul, tulit Isboseth filium Saul, et circumduxit eum per castra,
9and ordained him king over Galaad, and over Gessuri, and over Jezrahel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.and ordained him king ouer Galaad, and ouer Gessuri, and ouer Iezrahel, & ouer Ephraim, and ouer Beniamin, and ouer al Israel.✦regemque constituit super Galaad, et super Gessuri, et super Jezraël, et super Ephraim, et super Benjamin, et super Israël universum.
10Forty years old was Isboseth the son of Saul when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years: and only the house of Juda followed David.Fourtie yeares old was Isboseth the sonne of Saul when he began to reigne ouer Israel, and he reigned two yeares: and only the house of Iuda folowed Dauid.✦Quadraginta annorum erat Isboseth filius Saul cum regnare cœpisset super Israël, et duobus annis regnavit : sola autem domus Juda sequebatur David.
11And the number of the days, that David abode, reigning in Hebron over the house of Juda, was seven years and six months.And the number of the daies, that Dauid abode, reigning in Hebron ouer the house of Iuda, was seuen yeares and six monethes.Et fuit numerus dierum quos commoratus est David imperans in Hebron super domum Juda, septem annorum et sex mensium.
12And Abner the son of Ner went forth, and the servants of Isboseth the son of Saul, out of the camp into Gabaon.And Abner the sonne of Ner went forth, and the seruantes of Isboseth the sonne of Saul, out of the campe into Gabaon.Egressusque est Abner filius Ner, et pueri Isboseth filii Saul, de castris in Gabaon.
13Moreover Joab the son of Sarvia, and the servants of David went forth, and met them beside the pool of Gabaon, and when they were come together into one place, they sat one over against another: these on the one side of the pool, and they on the other.Moreouer Ioab the sonne of Saruia, and the seruantes of Dauid went forth, and mette them beside the poole of Gabaon, and when they were come together into one place, they sate one ouer against an other: these on the one side of the poole, and they on the other.Porro Joab filius Sarviæ, et pueri David, egressi sunt, et occurrerunt eis juxta piscinam Gabaon. Et cum in unum convenissent, e regione sederunt : hi ex una parte piscinæ, et illi ex altera.
14And Abner said to Joab: Let the young men rise, and play before us.And Abner said to Ioab: Let the yong men rise, and play before vs.✦Dixitque Abner ad Joab : Surgant pueri, et ludant coram nobis. Et respondit Joab : Surgant.
15And Joab answered: Let them rise. So they rose therefore and passed twelve in number, of Benjamin, of Isboseth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.And Ioab answered: Let them rise. So they rose therefore and passed twelue in number, of Beniamin, of Isboseth the sonne of Saul, and twelue of the seruantes of Dauid.Surrexerunt ergo, et transierunt numero duodecim de Benjamin, ex parte Isboseth filii Saul, et duodecim de pueris David.
16And every one taking the head of his comparis: his fellow or counterpart, not a spouse, stuck his sword into the side of his adversary, and they fell together: and the name of the place was called: The field of the valiants, in Gabaon.And euery one taking the head of his mate, sticked his sword into the side of his aduersarie, and they fel together: & the name of the place was called: The field of the valiantes, in Gabaon.✦Apprehensoque unusquisque capite comparis sui, defixit gladium in latus contrarii, et ceciderunt simul : vocatumque est nomen loci illius : Ager robustorum, in Gabaon.
17And there rose a very sore battle in that day: and Abner was put to flight, and the men of Israel, by the servants of David.And there rose a very sore battel in that day: and Abner was put to flight, & the men of Israel, by the seruantes of Dauid.✦Et ortum est bellum durum satis in die illa : fugatusque est Abner et viri Israël a pueris David.
18And there were there the three sons of Sarvia, Joab, and Abisai, and Asael: moreover Asael was a most swift runner, as it were one of the roes, that abide in the woods.And there were there the three sonnes of Saruia, Ioab, and Abisai, and Asael: moreouer Asael was a most swift runner, as it were one of the roes, that abide in the wooddes.✦Erant autem ibi tres filii Sarviæ, Joab, et Abisai, et Asaël : porro Asaël cursor velocissimus fuit, quasi unus de capreis quæ morantur in silvis.
19And Asael pursued Abner, and declined not to the right hand nor to the left omitting to pursue Abner.And Asael pursued Abner, and declined not to the right hand nor to the left omitting to pursue Abner.Persequebatur autem Asaël Abner, et non declinavit ad dextram neque ad sinistram omittens persequi Abner.
20Abner therefore looked back behind him, and said: Art thou Asael? Who answered: I am.Abner therefore looked backe behind him, and said: Art thou Asael? Who answered: I am.Respexit itaque Abner post tergum suum, et ait : Tune es Asaël ? Qui respondit : Ego sum.
21And Abner said to him: Go to the right hand, or to the left, and apprehend one of the young men, and take to thee his spoils. But Asael would not leave but urged him.And Abner said to him: Goe to the right hand, or to the left, and apprehend one of the yong men, and take to thee his spoyles. But Asael would not leaue but vrged him.Dixitque ei Abner : Vade ad dextram, sive ad sinistram, et apprehende unum de adolescentibus, et tolle tibi spolia ejus. Noluit autem Asaël omittere quin urgeret eum.
22And again Abner said to Asael: Retire, and do not follow me, lest I be compelled to stick thee to the ground, and I shall not be able to lift up my face to Joab thy brother.And againe Abner said to Asael: Retyre, and do not folow me, lest I be compelled to sticke thee to the ground, and I shal not be able to lift vp my face to Ioab thy brother.Rursumque locutus est Abner ad Asaël : Recede, noli me sequi, ne compellar confodere te in terram, et levare non potero faciem meam ad Joab fratrem tuum.
23Who contemned to hear, and would not go aside: Abner therefore struck him, with his spear turned back in the privy inguine: the groin, and thrust him through, and he died in the same place: and all that passed by that place, wherein Asael fell and died, did stay.Who contemned to heare, and would not goe aside: Abner therefore stroke him, with his speare turned backe in the priuy partes, and thrust him through, and he dyed in the same place: and al that passed by that place, where in Asael fel and dyed, did stay.✦Qui audire contempsit, et noluit declinare : percussit ergo eum Abner aversa hasta in inguine, et transfodit, et mortuus est in eodem loco : omnesque qui transibant per locum illum, in quo ceciderat Asaël et mortuus erat, subsistebant.
24But whiles Joab and Abisai pursued Abner fleeing, the sun went down: and they came as far as the hill of the water conduit, that is over against the valley the way of the desert in Gabaon.But whiles Ioab and Abisai pursued Abner fleeing, the sunne went downe: and they came as farre as the hil of the water conduit, that is ouer against the valley the way of the desert in Gabaon.Persequentibus autem Joab et Abisai fugientem Abner, sol occubuit : et venerunt usque ad collem aquæductus, qui est ex adverso vallis itineris deserti in Gabaon.
25And the children of Benjamin were assembled together to Abner: and being gathered in a conglobati: a compact massed cluster, into one troop, they stood in the top of one hill.And the children of Beniamin were assembled together to Abner: and being gathered in a plumpe, into one troupe, they stoode in the toppe of one hil.Congregatique sunt filii Benjamin ad Abner : et conglobati in unum cuneum, steterunt in summitate tumuli unius.
26And Abner cried out to Joab, and said: Shall thy sword rage unto utter destruction? knowest thou not that desperation is dangerous? how long non dicis: deferrest, delayest thou to say to the people, that they leave to pursue their brethren?And Abner cryed out to Ioab, and said: Shal thy sword rage vnto vtter destruction? knowest thou not that desperation is dangerous? how long differest thou to say to the people, that they leaue to pursue their brethren?✦Et exclamavit Abner ad Joab, et ait : Num usque ad internecionem tuus mucro desæviet ? an ignoras quod periculosa sit desperatio ? usquequo non dicis populo ut omittat persequi fratres suos ?
27And Joab said: Our Lord liveth, if thou hadst spoken, in the morning had the people retired, from pursuing their brethren.And Ioab said: Our Lord liueth, if thou hadst spoken, in the morning had the people retyred, from pursuing their brethren.Et ait Joab : Vivit Dominus, si locutus fuisses, mane recessisset populus persequens fratrem suum.
28Joab therefore sounded the trumpet, and all the army stood, neither did they pursue Israel any further, nor enter into fight.Ioab therefore sounded the trumpette, and al the armie stood, neither did they pursue Israel any further, nor enter into fight.Insonuit ergo Joab buccina, et stetit omnis exercitus, nec persecuti sunt ultra Israël, neque iniere certamen.
29And Abner and his men went through the campestria: open level country, a plain country, all that night: and they passed Jordan, and having viewed all Bethhoron, came to the camp.And Abner and his men went through the champaine country, al that night: and they passed Iordan, and hauing vewed al Bethhoron, came to the campe.Abner autem et viri ejus abierunt per campestria, tota nocte illa : et transierunt Jordanem, et lustrata omni Bethoron, venerunt ad castra.
30Moreover Joab returning, after he had left Abner, assembled all the people: and there wanted of David's servants nineteen men, beside Asael.Moreouer Ioab retorning, after he had left Abner, assembled al the people: and there wanted of Dauids seruantes nintene men, beside Asael.Porro Joab reversus, omisso Abner, congregavit omnem populum : et defuerunt de pueris David decem et novem viri, excepto Asaële.
31But the servants of David struck of Benjamin, and of the men, that were with Abner three hundred three score, who also died.But the seruantes of Dauid stroke of Beniamin, and of the men, that were with Abner three hundred three score, who also dyed.Servi autem David percusserunt de Benjamin, et de viris qui erant cum Abner, trecentos sexaginta, qui et mortui sunt.
32And they took Asael, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father in Bethlehem: and Joab, and the men that were with him, walked all the night, and in the very twilight they came into Hebron.And they tooke Asael, & buried him in the sepulchre of his father in Bethlehem: and Ioab, and the men that were with him, walked al the night, and in the very twilight they came into Hebron.Tuleruntque Asaël, et sepelierunt eum in sepulchro patris sui in Bethlehem : et ambulaverunt tota nocte Joab et viri qui erant cum eo, et in ipso crepusculo pervenerunt in Hebron.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.