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 a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David grew steadily stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker continually.

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

Sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by 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, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; 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 David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David at Hebron. Abner Joins David

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

It came about while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David that Abner was making himself strong in 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?

Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to 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 over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “ Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hands of David; and yet today you charge me with a guilt concerning the 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,

May God do so to Abner, and more also, if as the Lord has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for 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 transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish 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 no longer answer Abner a word, because he was afraid of 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.

Then Abner sent messengers to David in his place, saying, “Whose is the land? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”

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.

He said, “Good! I will make a covenant with you, but I demand one thing of you, namely, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see me.”

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.

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

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

Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel 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.

But her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” So he returned.

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

Now Abner had consultation with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David 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 servant David I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from 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.

Abner also spoke in the hearing of Benjamin; and in addition Abner went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and 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.

Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who 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.

Abner said to David, “Let me arise and go and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may be king over all that your soul desires.” So 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 servants of David and Joab came from a raid 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.

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 army that was with him arrived, they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has 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 have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why then have you sent him away and he is already gone?

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.

You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you and to learn of your going out and coming in and to find out all that you are doing.” Joab Murders Abner

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.

When Joab came out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back 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.

So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the belly so that he died on account of 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.

Afterward when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord forever of 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!

May it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who takes hold of a distaff, or who falls by the sword, or who 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 killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon. David Mourns Abner

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 who were with him, “ Tear your clothes and gird on sackcloth and lament before Abner.” And King David walked behind 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.

Thus 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?

The king chanted a lament for Abner and said, “Should Abner die as a fool dies?

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.

“Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put in fetters; As one falls before the wicked, you have fallen.” 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.

Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was still day; but David vowed, saying, “ May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down.”

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

Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, just as everything 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.

So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the will of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death.

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 to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has 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!

I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too difficult for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil.”