Helkath-hazzurim: Plot of the sharp blades, or the field of heroes,
(2 Samuel 2:16) After the
battle of Gilboa, so fatal to Saul and his house, David, as divinely
directed, took up his residence in Hebron, and was there anointed
king over Judah. Among the fugitives from Gilboa was Ish-bosheth, the
only surviving son of Saul, whom Abner, Saul's uncle, took across the
Jordan to Mahanaim, and there had him proclaimed king. Abner gathered
all the forces at his command and marched to Gibeon, with the object
of wresting Judah from David. Joab had the command of David's army of
trained men, who encamped on the south of the pool, which was on the
east of the hill on which the town of Gibeon was built, while Abner's
army lay on the north of the pool. Abner proposed that the conflict
should be decided by twelve young men engaging in personal combat on
either side. The Song of Solomon fiercely did they encounter each other that "they
caught every man his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his
fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was
called Helkath-hazzurim." The combat of the champions was thus
indecisive, and there followed a severe general engagement between
the two armies, ending in the total rout of the Israelites under
Abner. The general result of this battle was that "David waxed
stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker"
(2 Samuel 3:1)
