The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 4 · Section 179 – Section 180
SECT. CLXXIX.
AFter Iſhboſheth's two years quiet reign there grew a long war between thoſe that adhered to him, and thoſe that adhered to David. Joab the Son of Zerviah (b)She was mother alſo of two other valiant Sons, viz. Abiſhai and Aſahel.(Davids ſiſter) bearing up the one ſide, and Abner the other. And accordingly Abner led forth an Army from Mahanaim to Gibeon to fight againſt David, where Joab with an Army met him; the one pitching on the one ſide of the pool of Gibeon, and the other on the other ſide. The Armies being thus near together, Abner ſent a Challenge to Joab, to wit, that a certain number of their young gallants on each ſide might come forth and skirmiſh together, and by a trial of their valour, and skill in Armes ſhew both Armies ſome ſport and paſtime. And this no doubt he did in a bravery, as hoping by this vaunting flouriſh of the courage of his men to daunt thoſe that were with Joab; but Joab no way diſcouraged readily accepted the Challenge, and ſent forth twelve of his men to enter the liſts with twelve of Abners. Theſe young men running fiercely upon one another, and catching every one his Antagoniſt by the head, they thruſt their ſwords into one anothers ſides, and ſo fell down dead all together. By which ſad event of this combate, God declar'd how much he abhor'd ſuch vain glorious Challenges. The field where they fell was from henceforth call'd Helkath-hazzarim, or the field of ſtrong and valiant men. The two Armies being enrag'd at the death of their fellows ſlain in this Combate, they preſently with great fury fall upon each other, and ſo there was a ſore battel, and at laſt Joab and his men won the field; and Abner was beaten, and his Army put to flight. In the purſuit Aſahel, Joab's brother, who was as light of foot as a wild Roe, and alſo a man of his hands, and valiant (c)And therefore reckoned among Davids Worthies, 1 Chron. 11.26., hotly purſued Abner ambitiouſly aſpiring (as it ſhould ſeem) to take the General of the field priſoner. Abner looking behind him, and ſeeing him thus hotly purſue him, he call'd to him and bad him turn either to the right hand or the left, and lay hold on one of the young men that followed him, and take his Armour. As if he ſhould have ſaid, ſet upon one that is thine equal, and content thy ſelf with taking the ſpoil of his Armour from him, and do not provoke an old experienced Souldier to thy great danger and peril. I am loth to kill thee, if thou doſt not too much provoke me to it, for thy brothers ſake: For if I ſhould kill thee how then ſhould I hold up my face to Joab thy brother, and how could I expect any peace or reconciliation with him? But Aſahel would not turn aſide from purſuing him; wherefore Abner turned upon him, and with the hinder end of his Spear ſmote him under the fifth rib, and he fell down dead immediately. Joab's Souldiers who purſued, when they came to the place where Aſahel lay dead, they ſtood ſtill and ceaſed their purſuit, gazing upon this ſad ſpectacle, and lamenting his death; Joab alſo himſelf and Abiſhai his brother purſued after Abner, and the Sun went down when they were come to the Hill of Ammah whither Abner had retreated, and there the children of Benjamin, and his other broken companies rallying themſelves together, and having the advantage of the upper ground, made head again againſt Joab. Then Abner as it ſeems deſired a parley with Joab, and ſpake to him after this manner, What ſhall the ſword devour for ever? Knoweſt thou not that it will be bitterneſs in the latter end? the ſhedding ſo much Iſraelitiſh blood, whatever you now may think of it in the heat of purſuing your victory, yet it will prove like ſuch meats as are ſweet in the mouth, but breeding choler are bitter in the ſtomack; ſlaughter and revenge may now ſeem ſweet unto you, but the effects thereof will be ſad and bitter; therefore I adviſe thee rather to deſiſt from the purſuit, and to command thy Souldiers to return from following their brethren. Joab replied, as ſure as God liveth, if thou hadſt not ſent us a Challenge, and provoked us to the Combat of the young men, the people with me were ſo far from deſiring to ſhed the blood of their brethren, that purpoſely to prevent it we were minded to have retired in the morning before the battel was fought. And to ſhew thee that I am more for peace than war, I ſhall now give over the chaſe of you. So Joab cauſed his Trumpeter to ſound a retreat, and they ceaſed from purſuing, and fought no more with Iſrael at this time, though afterwards the War was renewed again. And Abner and his men marched back to Mahanaim, and Joab muſtering his forces upon the place, found he had loſt but nineteen men beſides Aſahel, but of Abners men they found there were three hundred ſixty ſlain. Joab then took up the body of Aſahel, and buried it in the Sepulcher of his Father at Bethlem, and ſo marched back with his Army to Hebron.
2 Sam. from v. 12, to the end.
SECT. CLXXX.
AFter this there was long War between the houſe of Saul, and the houſe of David, which laſted five years and odd months from this time to the death of Iſhboſheth; Davids houſe waxing ſtronger and ſtronger, and Saul's weaker and weaker. David whilſt he was exil'd and perſecuted by Saul had no children, though he had two wives with him, God in his wiſe Providence ſo ordering it whilſt Children might have been an occaſion of much care and incumbrance unto him; but when he was choſen King over Judah, and ſetled in Hebron, he had ſix Sons born to him in his ſeven years and ſix months reign there. His firſt born was Amnon by Ahinoam; his ſecond Chileab (call'd Daniel, 1 Chron. 3.1.) by Abigail; his third Abſalom by Maacha, daughter of the King of Geſhur; his fourth Adonijah by Haggith; his fifth Shephatiah by Abital; his ſixth Ithream by Eglah *Beſides theſe ſix Sons which he had at Hebron of ſix wives he had four at Jeruſalem by Bathſheba, beſides the Sons of his Concubines, and his daughter Tamar, 1 Chron. 3. from v. 1, to 9..
2 Sam. Ch. 3. from 1, to 6.