1 T here was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

¶ Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David, but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

2 S ons were born to David in Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

And sons were born unto David in Hebron; and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam, the Jezreelitess;

3 H is second, Chileab, by Abigail widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom the son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

and his second, Chileab, of Abigail who had been the wife of Nabal of Carmel; and the third, Absalom, the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;

4 T he fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

and the fourth, Adonijah, the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah, the son of Abital;

5 A nd the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

and the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6 W hile there was war between the houses of Saul and David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.

And it came to pass while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.

7 N ow Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?

¶ And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbosheth said to Abner, Why hast thou gone in unto my father’s concubine?

8 T hen Abner was very angry at the words of Ish-bosheth and said, Am I a dog’s head against Judah? This day I keep showing kindness and loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and his friends, and have not delivered you into the hands of David; and yet you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman!

Then Abner was very angry for the words of Ishbosheth and said, Am I a dog’s head in regard to Judah? I have shown mercy this day unto the house of Saul, thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends and have not delivered thee into the hand of David that thou dost charge me today with iniquity concerning this woman?

9 M ay God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David what the Lord has sworn to him,

Let God do to Abner and more also unless, as the LORD has sworn to David, so do I unto him,

10 T o transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set the throne of David over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.

to translate the kingdom from the house of Saul and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah from Dan even to Beersheba.

11 A nd Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner a word, because he feared him.

And he could not answer Abner a word again because he feared him.

12 A nd Abner sent messengers to David where he was, saying, Whose is the land? Make your league with me, and my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you.

And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? And that they should also say, Make thy covenant with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.

13 A nd David said, Good. I will make a league with you. But I require one thing of you: that is, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see me.

And he said, Good; I will make a covenant with thee, but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face except thou first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

14 A nd David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

After this, David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

15 A nd Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel son of Laish.

So Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel, the son of Laish.

16 B ut her husband went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, Go back. And he did so.

And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then Abner said unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

17 A bner talked with the seniors of Israel, saying, In times past you sought to make David king over you.

And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you;

18 N ow then, do it! For the Lord has spoken of David, saying, By the hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.

now then do it, for the LORD has spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my slave David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines and out of the hand of all their enemies.

19 A bner also spoke to Benjamin. Then went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and the whole house of Benjamin to do.

And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin, and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.

20 S o Abner came to David at Hebron, and twenty men along with him. And David made Abner and the men with him a feast.

So Abner came to David to Hebron and twenty men with him. And David made a banquet for Abner and the men that were with him.

21 A bner said to David, I will go and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a league with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires. So David sent Abner away in peace.

And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king that they may make a covenant with thee and that thou may reign over all that thy heart desires. And David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

22 T hen the servants of David came with Joab from pursuing a troop and brought much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

¶ And, behold, the slaves of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop and brought in a great spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.

23 W hen Joab and all the army with him had come, it was told to Joab, Abner son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner, the son of Ner, came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

24 T hen Joab came to the king and said, What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it you have sent him away and he is quite gone?

Then Joab came to the king and said, What hast thou done? Behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast let him go?

25 Y ou know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to know your going out and coming in and all you are doing.

Dost thou not know that Abner, the son of Ner, came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in and to know all that thou doest?

26 W hen Joab came from seeing David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know it.

And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, who caused him to return from the well of Sirah, but David did not know it.

27 A nd when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to the center of the gate to speak to him privately, and there he smote Abner in the abdomen, so that he died to avenge the blood of Asahel, Joab’s brother.

And when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly and smote him there under the fifth rib that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

28 W hen David heard of it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner son of Ner.

And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner, the son of Ner.

29 L et it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or is a leper or walks with a crutch or is a distaff holder or who falls by the sword or lacks food!

Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that has an issue or that is a leper or that leans on a staff or that dies by the sword or that lacks bread.

30 S o Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

31 A nd David said to Joab and to all the people with him, Rend your clothes, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And King David followed the bier.

Then David said to Joab and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes and gird yourselves with sackcloth and mourn before Abner. And King David himself followed the bier.

32 T hey buried Abner in Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.

And they buried Abner in Hebron, and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.

33 A nd the king lamented over Abner and said, Should Abner die as a fool dies?

And the king lamented over Abner and said, Abner died the death of a fool!

34 Y our hands were not bound or your feet put into fetters; as a man falls before wicked men, so you fell. And all the people wept again over him.

Thy hands were not bound nor thy feet put into fetters. Thou didst fall as a man falls before wicked men. And all the people wept again over him.

35 A ll the people came to urge David to eat food while it was yet day; but David took an oath, saying, May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else, till the sun is down.

And when all the people came to cause David to eat food while it was yet day, David swore, saying, So do God to me, and more also if I taste bread or anything else until the sun is down.

36 A nd all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as whatever the king did pleased all the people.

And all the people understood, and it pleased them, for whatever the king did pleased all the people.

37 F or all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not the king’s will to slay Abner son of Ner.

For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner, the son of Ner.

38 K ing David said to his servants, Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?

Then the king said unto his slaves, Do ye not know that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

39 A nd I am this day weak, though anointed king; these sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!

And I am this day a tender anointed king, and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me; the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.