1 N ow 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

Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David waxed stronger and stronger, but 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 unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his first-born was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

3 h is second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; 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 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 David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron. Abner Joins Forces with David

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

6 N ow 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.

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

7 A nd 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?”

Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?

8 T hen 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?

Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head that belongeth to Judah? This day do I show kindness unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David; and yet thou chargest me this day with a fault concerning this woman.

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

God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Jehovah hath sworn to David, I do not even so to him;

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

to transfer 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.

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

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

12 T hen 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.”

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 A nd 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.”

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

And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

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

And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish.

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

And her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return: and he returned.

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

And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, In times past ye sought 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 hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’”

now then do it; for Jehovah 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 nd 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.

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 to the whole house of Benjamin.

20 S o 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 T hen 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

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 mayest reign over all that thy soul desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

22 A t 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.

And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a foray, 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 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.”

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? Look, Abner came to you; why is it that you sent him away, and he has 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 S urely 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.”

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 A nd 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.

And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.

27 N ow 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.

And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

28 A fterward, 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.

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

29 L et 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.”

let it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon 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 by the sword, or that lacketh bread.

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

So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed 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, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” And King David followed the coffin.

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 followed the bier.

32 S o 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 A nd the king sang a lament over Abner and said: “Should Abner die as a fool dies?

And the king lamented for Abner, and said, Should Abner die as a fool dieth?

34 Y our 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.

Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: As a man falleth before the children of iniquity, so didst thou fall. And all the people wept again over him.

35 A nd 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!”

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

36 N ow all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, since whatever 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 F or 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.

So 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 A nd 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.”

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