2 Samuel 2:8-17

8Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth,1 moved him to Mahanaim, 9and made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel.

10Saul’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. 11And the length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

12One day Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13So 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.

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

“Let them get up,” Joab replied.

15So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. 16Then 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.2

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