1 T here was a long war between the family of Saul and the family of David. David became stronger and stronger. But the family of Saul became weaker and weaker. David’s Sons

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 first-born was Amnon, by David’s wife Ahinoam of Jezreel.

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

3 H is second son was Chileab, by Abigail who had been the wife of Nabal of Carmel. The third was 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 was Adonijah the son of Haggith. The fifth was 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 was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David at Hebron. Abner Goes over with David

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

6 W hile there was war between the family of Saul and the family of David, Abner was making himself strong in the family 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 woman acting as his wife whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to the woman who acted as my father’s wife?”

And 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 A bner was very angry because of Ish-bosheth’s words, and said, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the family of your father Saul, to his brothers and to his friends. I have not given you into David’s hands. Yet today you say I am guilty because of this woman.

Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, 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 I do not do for David what the Lord has promised him.

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

10 H e has promised to build the throne of David over Israel and over 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 Beer-sheba.

11 A nd Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner, because he was afraid of him.

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

12 T hen Abner sent men with news to David at Hebron, saying, “Whose land is this? Make your agreement with me, and I will help you 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 D avid said, “Good! I will make an agreement with you. But you must do one thing that I say. You will not see my face unless you first bring Saul’s daughter Michal 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 T hen David sent men to Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, saying, “Give me my wife Michal. I was married to her by giving a hundred pieces of skin from the sex parts of the Philistines.”

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

15 S o Ish-bosheth sent men to take her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish.

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

16 B ut her husband went with her, crying as he went. He 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 spoke with the leaders of Israel, saying, “In times past you wanted David to be your king.

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 make it happen! For the Lord has said of David, ‘By the hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel from the Philistines and from all those who hate them.’”

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 spoke to Benjamin also. Then Abner went to Hebron to tell David all that Israel and the whole family of Benjamin thought was good to do.

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 A bner came with twenty men to David at Hebron. And David made a special supper 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 go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so they may make an agreement with you. Then you may be king over all your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace. Joab Kills 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 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 T hen David’s servants and Joab came from a battle and brought with them many good things they had taken. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for David had sent him away. Abner 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 the army with him came, it was told to Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king. And the king has sent him away 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? See, Abner came to you. Why then have you sent him away, so that he is 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. He came to fool you, and to learn about your going out and coming in. He came to learn 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 W hen Joab left David, he sent men after Abner. 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 W hen Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the center of the gate to speak with him alone. There Joab hit him in the stomach and killed him because of the blood of his brother Asahel.

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 W hen David heard about it, he said, “I and my nation are forever without guilt before the Lord, from 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 the guilt be on the head of Joab and all his father’s family. May the family of Joab never be without one who has a flow from his body, or a bad skin disease, or the need to use a walking stick. Or may his family never be without one who falls by the sword, or who needs more 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 his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had killed their brother in the battle at Gibeon. David Shows Sorrow for 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 all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes and dress in clothes made from hair. Cry in sorrow in front of Abner.” And King David walked behind the box in which the dead man was carried.

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 hey buried Abner in Hebron. And the king cried in a loud voice at Abner’s grave. All the people cried.

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 sang a song of sorrow for Abner, saying, “Should Abner die as a fool dies?

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

34 Y our hands were not tied. Your feet were not put in chains. You have fallen as one falls in front of the sinful.” And all the people cried 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 try to talk David into eating bread while it was still day. But David promised, 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 A ll the people saw it, and it pleased them. 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 king’s will to kill Abner the 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 T hen the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a leader, 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, even if I was chosen to be king. The sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May the Lord pay the sinner for his sin.”

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.