1 N ow 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.

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 at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

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

3 a nd 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;

And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and 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;

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

5 a nd the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David at Hebron. Abner Joins David

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

6 I t 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.

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, the 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, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?

8 T hen 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.

Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness 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 chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?

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

So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the Lord hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

10 t o 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.”

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 he could no longer answer Abner a word, because he was afraid of him.

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

12 T hen 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.”

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

13 H e 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.”

And he said, Well; I will make a league 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 S o 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.”

And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

15 I sh-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish.

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

16 B ut 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.

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

17 N ow Abner had consultation with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be 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 hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’”

Now then do it: for the Lord hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant 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 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.

And Abner also spake 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 T hen 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.

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

21 A bner 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.

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 league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

22 A nd 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.

And, behold, the servants 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 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.”

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 hath 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 then have you sent him away and he is already gone?

Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?

25 Y ou 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

Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he 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 out from 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, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.

27 S o 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.

And when Abner was 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 A fterward 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.

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 M ay 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.”

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 hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

30 S o Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon. David Mourns Abner

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

31 T hen 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.

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

32 T hus they 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 T he king chanted a lament for Abner and said, “Should Abner die as a fool dies?

And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?

34 “ 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.

Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.

35 T hen 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.”

And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.

36 N ow all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, just as everything the king did pleased all the people.

And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

37 S o 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.

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 T hen the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?

And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

39 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.”

And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.