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 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 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 the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; 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.

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 David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron. Abner Joins Forces with David

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.

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 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. So Ishbosheth 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 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 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 as 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 up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”

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

And he could not answer Abner another 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.”

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 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 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 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.”

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

And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel 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.

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

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

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 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.

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

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 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 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 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.

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 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.

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

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.

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 T hey buried Abner in Hebron. And the king cried in a loud voice at Abner’s grave. All the people cried.

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

And the king sang a lament 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 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 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 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 ll the people saw it, and it pleased them. Everything 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 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 had not been the king’s intent to kill 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?

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 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 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.”