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

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.

2 S ons were born to David at Hebron. His first-born was Amnon, by David’s wife Ahinoam of Jezreel.

Sons were born to David in Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by 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.

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

4 T he fourth was Adonijah the son of Haggith. The fifth was Shephatiah the son of Abital.

The fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; 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.

While there was war between the houses of Saul and David, Abner was making himself strong in 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?”

Now 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?

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 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!

9 M ay God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David what the Lord has promised him.

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

10 H e has promised to build the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”

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

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

And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner a word, 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 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.

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 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.

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, Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed for a 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, from Paltiel 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.

But her husband went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, Go back. And he did so.

17 N ow Abner spoke with the leaders of Israel, saying, “In times past you wanted David to be your king.

Abner talked with the seniors of Israel, saying, In times past you sought to make David 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 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.

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.

Abner 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.

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 at Hebron, and twenty men along with him. And David made Abner and the men 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

Abner 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.

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.

Then 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.

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 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.

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 have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it you have 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.”

You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to know your going out and coming in and all you are doing.

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.

When 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.

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 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.

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.

When David heard of it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner 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 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!

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 with him, Rend your clothes, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And King David 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.

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, Should Abner die as a fool dies?

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.

Your 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.

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.”

All 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.

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 whatever 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 the king’s will to slay Abner 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?

King David 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 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; these sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!