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of the host of Saul, and other servants of Saul, took Ishbosheth the son
of Saul, and led him about, and made him king over Israel, except the
tribe of Judah. Ishbosheth was forty years when he began to reign, and
he reigned two years. The house of Judah only followed David. After this
it happed that Abner, prince of the host of Ishbosheth, with certain
men, went out of the castles, and Joab with certain men of David went
also out and ran by the piscine [pool] of Gibeon. One party was on that
one side, and that other on the other. And Abner said to Joab: Let our
young men play and skirmish together, and Joab agreed. And there rose
twelve of Benjamin, of the party of Ishbosheth, and twelve of the
children of David; and when they met together each took other by the
head, and roof their swords into each other's sides and were all there
slain. And there arose a great battle, and Abner and his fellowship were
put to flight by the men of David.

And among all other there was Asahel one of the brethren of Joab and was
the swiftest runner that might be, and pursued Abner, and Abner looked
behind him, and bade him decline on the right side or on the left side,
and take one of the young men and his harness, and come not at me.
Asahel would not leave him; yet Abner said to him: Go from me and follow
not me lest I be compelled to slay thee, and then I may not make my
peace with Joab thy brother. Which would not hear Abner, but despised
him, and Abner then turned and slew him in the same place, and anon the
sun went down and they withdrew. There were slain of the children of
David nineteen men and of them of Benjamin three hundred and sixty were
slain, and thus there was long strife and contention between the house
of David and the house of Ishbosheth. After this Abner took a concubine
of Saul and held her, wherefore Ishbosheth reproved him of it and Abner
was wroth greatly thereof; and came to David and made friendship with
him. Joab was not there when Abner made his peace with David; but when
he knew it he came to Abner with a fair semblant and spake fair to him
by dissimulation, and slew him for to avenge the death of Asahel his
brother. And when David heard how Joab had slain Abner he cursed him,
and bewailed greatly the death of Abner, and did do bury him [caused him
to be buried] honorably, and David followed the bier himself. And when
Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, heard that Abner was dead, he was all
abashed and all Israel