1 A nd the war was long between the house of Saul and the house of David; but David became continually stronger, and the house of Saul became continually weaker.

Now there 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. Sons of David

2 A nd to David were sons born in Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jizreelitess;

Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

3 a nd his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maachah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;

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

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

5 a nd the sixth, Ithream, of 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 in Hebron. Abner Joins Forces with David

6 A nd 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.

Now it was so, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul.

7 A nd Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And said to Abner, Why hast thou gone in to my father's concubine?

And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”

8 T hen was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, I who against Judah do shew kindness this day to 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 reproachest me this day with the fault of this woman?

Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, “ Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman?

9 S o do God to Abner, and more also, if, as Jehovah has sworn to David, I do not so to him;

May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David as the Lord has sworn to him—

10 t o 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 Beer-sheba!

to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”

11 A nd he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

12 A nd Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying, Make thy covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with thee, to turn all Israel to thee.

Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying, “Whose is the land?” saying also, “Make your covenant with me, and indeed my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel to you.”

13 A nd he said, Well, I will make a covenant with thee; only I require one thing 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.

And David said, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”

14 A nd David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I espoused to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

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

15 A nd Ishbosheth sent, and took her from husband, from Phaltiel the son of Laish.

And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish.

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

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

17 N ow Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David aforetime to be king over you;

Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, “In time past you were seeking for David to be king over you.

18 a nd now do, for Jehovah has spoken of David, saying, By my servant David will I save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand 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 the hand of all their enemies.’”

19 A nd 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.

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

20 S o Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a repast.

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

Then Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace. Joab Murders Abner

22 A nd behold, the servants of David and Joab came from an expedition, and brought in a great spoil with them; but Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

At that moment 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 A nd Joab and all the host that was with him came; and 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.

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

24 T hen Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came to thee; why is it thou hast sent him away, and he is gone?

Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you; why is it that you sent him away, and he has already gone?

25 T hou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

26 A nd when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him again from the well of Sirah; but David did not know it.

And when Joab had gone from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it.

27 A nd when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him secretly, and smote him there in the belly, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there stabbed him in the stomach, so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother.

28 A nd afterwards David heard, and he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before Jehovah for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “My kingdom and I are guiltless 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 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 falls by the sword, or that lacks bread!

Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”

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

So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. David’s Mourning for Abner

31 A nd David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your garments, and 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, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” And King David followed the coffin.

32 A nd they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

So 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 dieth?

And the king sang a lament over Abner and said: “Should Abner die as a fool dies?

34 T hy hands were not bound, Nor thy feet put into fetters; As a man falleth before wicked men, Fellest thou! And all the people wept again over him.

Your hands were not bound Nor your feet put into fetters; As a man falls before wicked men, so you fell.” Then all the people wept over him again.

35 A nd all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread or aught else till the sun be down!

And when all the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!”

36 A nd all the people remarked 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, since whatever the king did pleased all the people.

37 A nd all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death.

For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s intent to kill Abner the son of Ner.

38 A nd the king said to his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man 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; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too hard for me: Jehovah reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness!

And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me. The Lord shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”