Conflict between Judah and Israel

¹² Abner, Ner’s son, along with the soldiers of Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, left Mahanaim to go to Gibeon. ¹³ Joab, Zeruiah’s son, and David’s soldiers also came out and confronted them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat on one side of the pool; the other sat on the opposite side of the pool. ¹⁴ Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have the young men fight in a contest^[a] before us.”

“All right,” Joab said, “let’s do it.”