Helkath-hazzurim

Helkath-hazzurim (meaning the field of strong men or field of the rock-edges) was a field near the pool of Gibeon where a fateful combat took place at the outset of the conflict between the house of Saul and the house of David. At Abner's suggestion, twelve men from Benjamin representing Saul's house and twelve from Judah representing David's fought each other simultaneously; each man seized his opponent's head and thrust his sword into his side, so that all twenty-four fell together (2 Sam. 2:12–16). This inconclusive "tournament" led immediately to a larger battle in which Asahel was slain by Abner, setting in motion the blood feud that would lead to Abner's eventual murder by Joab.