Today is the 23rd day of May. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I'm Brian. It is great to be here with you today as we gather once again around the Global Countfire.

Take the next step forward together in the Scriptures and in our lives.

We just started the book of 2 Samuel. Today will be our second day in 2 Samuel, so we're just getting moved in.

That's the territory that we are in. As we mentioned, as we began 2 Samuel, we're now focusing our attention on David,

who is the King of Judah, but not the King of Israel yet. Let's pick up the story.

2 Samuel 2 verse 12 through 3 verse 39 today.

3 Abner, the son of Nure, and the servants of Ishbashath, the son of Saul, traveled from Mahnaiam to Gibyan.

David's general, Joab, whose mother was David's sister, Zeraya, and David's servants went out to meet them at the pool of Gibyan.

Abner's forces were by one side of the pool, Joab's forces by the other.

Abner said to Joab, why don't we send our young soldiers out to have a contest before us?

Joab said our height, send them forward.

12 men came forward to represent the people of Benjamin and Ishbashath, the son of Saul, and 12 to represent David and his people.

They all caught their opponents by the head and thrust their swords into their opponent's sides, so they all fell down together.

That is why this place was called the Field of Adversaries, Helkat Hazurum in Gibyan.

The battle that followed this contest was brutal that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David.

All three of Zeraya's sons were fighting for David, Joab, Abishai, and Asahal.

Asahal was a swift runner, fast as a gazelle, and he chased after Abner intently.

Abner looked behind him, is that you Asahal?

And Asahal said, it is.

Abner said, stop pursuing me, attack one of the soldiers of your own rank, and take his possessions instead.

But Asahal would not stop in his pursuit.

Abner said, if you don't stop pursuing me, I'll have no choice but to kill you.

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