2 Samuel 2

1 Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” “Go up,” the LORD answered. Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To Hebron,” replied the LORD.

1 此後，大衛問耶和華說：「我上猶大的一個城去可以嗎？」耶和華說：「可以。」大衛說：「我上哪一個城去呢？」耶和華說：「上希伯崙去。」

2 So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.

2 於是大衛和他的兩個妻－一個是耶斯列人亞希暖，一個是作過迦密人拿八妻的亞比該－都上那裏去了。

3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron.

3 大衛也將跟隨他的人和他們各人的眷屬一同帶上去，住在希伯崙的城邑中。

4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.”

4 猶大人來到希伯崙，在那裏膏大衛作猶大家的王。 有人告訴大衛說：「葬埋掃羅的是基列‧雅比人。」

5 So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead to tell them, “The LORD bless you, because you showed this kindness to Saul your lord when you buried him.

5 大衛就差人去見基列‧雅比人，對他們說：「你們厚待你們的主－掃羅，將他葬埋。願耶和華賜福與你們！

6 Now may the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness, and I will also show you the same favor because you have done this.

6 你們既行了這事，願耶和華以慈愛誠實待你們，我也要為此厚待你們。

7 Now then, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me as their king.”

7 現在你們的主－掃羅死了，猶大家已經膏我作他們的王，所以你們要剛強奮勇。」

8 Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim,

8 掃羅的元帥尼珥的兒子押尼珥，曾將掃羅的兒子伊施波設帶過河，到瑪哈念，

9 and made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel.

9 立他作王，治理基列、亞書利、耶斯列、以法蓮、便雅憫，和以色列眾人。

10 Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.

10 掃羅的兒子伊施波設登基的時候年四十歲，作以色列王二年；惟獨猶大家歸從大衛。

11 And the length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

11 大衛在希伯崙作猶大家的王，共七年零六個月。

12 One day Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

12 尼珥的兒子押尼珥和掃羅的兒子伊施波設的僕人從瑪哈念出來，往基遍去。

13 So Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. And the two groups took up positions on opposite sides of the pool.

13 洗魯雅的兒子約押和大衛的僕人也出來，在基遍池旁與他們相遇；一班坐在池這邊，一班坐在池那邊。

14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” “Let them get up,” Joab replied.

14 押尼珥對約押說：「讓少年人起來，在我們面前戲耍吧！」約押說：「可以。」

15 So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David.

15 就按着定數起來：屬掃羅兒子伊施波設的便雅憫人過去十二名，大衛的僕人也過去十二名，

16 Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side, and they all fell together. So this place, which is in Gibeon, is called Helkath-hazzurim.

16 彼此揪頭，用刀刺肋，一同仆倒。所以，那地叫做希利甲‧哈素林，就在基遍。

17 The battle that day was intense, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David.

17 那日的戰事凶猛，押尼珥和以色列人敗在大衛的僕人面前。

18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,

18 在那裏有洗魯雅的三個兒子：約押、亞比篩、亞撒黑。亞撒黑腳快如野鹿一般；

19 and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit.

19 亞撒黑追趕押尼珥，直追趕他不偏左右。

20 And Abner glanced back and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” “It is,” Asahel replied.

20 押尼珥回頭說：「你是亞撒黑嗎？」回答說：「是。」

21 So Abner told him, “Turn to your right or to your left, seize one of the young men, and take his equipment for yourself.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.

21 押尼珥對他說：「你或轉向左轉向右，拿住一個少年人，剝去他的戰衣。」亞撒黑卻不肯轉開不追趕他。

22 Once again, Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?”

22 押尼珥又對亞撒黑說：「你轉開不追趕我吧！我何必殺你呢？若殺你，有甚麼臉見你哥哥約押呢？」

23 But Asahel refused to turn away. So Abner thrust the butt of his spear into his stomach, and it came out his back, and he fell dead on the spot. And every man paused when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.

23 亞撒黑仍不肯轉開。故此，押尼珥就用槍鐏刺入他的肚腹，甚至槍從背後透出，亞撒黑就在那裏仆倒而死。眾人趕到亞撒黑仆倒而死的地方，就都站住。

24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.

24 約押和亞比篩追趕押尼珥，日落的時候，到了通基遍曠野的路旁，基亞對面的亞瑪山。

25 The Benjamites rallied to Abner, formed a single unit, and took their stand atop a hill.

25 便雅憫人聚集，跟隨押尼珥站在一個山頂上。

26 Then Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?”

26 押尼珥呼叫約押說：「刀劍豈可永遠殺人嗎？你豈不知終久必有苦楚嗎？你要等何時才叫百姓回去、不追趕弟兄呢？」

27 “As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.”

27 約押說：「我指着永生的上帝起誓：你若不說戲耍的那句話，今日早晨百姓就回去，不追趕弟兄了。」

28 So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight.

28 於是約押吹角，眾民就站住，不再追趕以色列人，也不再打仗了。

29 And all that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning, and arrived at Mahanaim.

29 押尼珥和跟隨他的人整夜經過亞拉巴，過約旦河，走過畢倫，到了瑪哈念。

30 When Joab returned from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel, nineteen of David’s servants were missing,

30 約押追趕押尼珥回來，聚集眾民，見大衛的僕人中缺少了十九個人和亞撒黑。

31 but they had struck down 360 Benjamites who were with Abner.

31 但大衛的僕人殺了便雅憫人和跟隨押尼珥的人，共三百六十名。

32 And they took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.

32 眾人將亞撒黑送到伯利恆，葬在他父親的墳墓裏。約押和跟隨他的人走了一夜，天亮的時候到了希伯崙。