1 A nd the war is long between the house of Saul and the house of David, and David is going on and strong, and the house of Saul are going on and weak.

¶ 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 A nd there are born to David sons in Hebron, and his first-born is Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess,

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

3 a nd his second Chileab, of Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelite, and the third Absalom son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur,

and his second, Chileab, of Abigail who had been the wife of Nabal of Carmel; and the third, Absalom, the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;

4 a nd the fourth Adonijah son of Haggith, and the fifth Shephatiah 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, of Eglah wife of David; these have been born to David in Hebron.

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

6 A nd it cometh to pass, in the war being between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner hath been strengthening himself 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 a nd Saul hath a concubine, and her name Rizpah daughter of Aiah, and saith unto Abner, `Wherefore hast thou gone in unto the concubine of my father?'

¶ And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbosheth said to Abner, Why hast thou gone in unto my father’s concubine?

8 A nd it is displeasing to Abner exceedingly, because of the words of Ish-Bosheth, and he saith, `The head of a dog I -- that in reference to Judah to-day I do kindness with the house of Saul thy father, unto his brethren, and unto his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David -- that thou chargest against me iniquity concerning the woman to-day?

Then Abner was very angry for the words of Ishbosheth and said, Am I a dog’s head in regard to Judah? I have shown mercy 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 dost charge me today with iniquity concerning this woman?

9 t hus doth God to Abner, and thus He doth add to him, surely as Jehovah hath sworn to David -- surely so I do to him:

Let God do to Abner and more also unless, as the LORD has sworn to David, so do I unto him,

10 t o cause the kingdom to pass over from the house of Saul, and to raise up the throne of David over Israel, and over Judah, from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba.'

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 is not able any more to turn back Abner a word, because of his fearing him.

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

12 A nd Abner sendeth messengers unto David for himself, saying, `Whose the land?' saying, `Make thy covenant with me, and lo, my hand with thee, to bring round unto thee all Israel.'

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

13 A nd he saith, `Good -- I make with thee a covenant; only, one thing I am asking of thee, that is, Thou dost not see my face, except thou dost first bring in Michal, daughter of Saul in thy coming into see my face.'

And he said, Good; I will make a covenant 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 A nd David sendeth messengers unto Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, saying, `Give up my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself with a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.'

After this, David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

15 A nd Ish-Bosheth sendeth, and taketh her from a man, from Phaltiel son of Laish,

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

16 a nd her husband goeth with her, going on and weeping behind her, unto Bahurim, and Abner saith unto him, `Go, turn back;' and he turneth back.

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

17 A nd the word of Abner was with the elders of Israel, saying, `Heretofore ye have been seeking David for 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 a nd now, do, for Jehovah hath spoken of David saying, By the hand of David my servant -- to save My people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.'

now then do it, for the LORD has spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my slave 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 speaketh also in the ears of Benjamin, and Abner goeth also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that good in the eyes of Israel, and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin,

And Abner also spoke 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 nd Abner cometh in unto David, to Hebron, and with him twenty men, and David maketh for Abner, and for the men who with him, a banquet.

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

21 A nd Abner saith unto David, `I arise, and go, and gather unto my lord the king the whole of Israel, and they make with thee a covenant, and thou hast reigned over all that thy soul desireth;' and David sendeth away Abner, and he goeth 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 covenant with thee and that thou may reign over all that thy heart desires. And David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

22 A nd lo, the servants of David, and Joab, have come from the troop, and much spoil have brought with them, and Abner is not with David in Hebron, for he hath sent him away, and he goeth in peace;

¶ And, behold, the slaves 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 a nd Joab and all the host that with him have come, and they declare to Joab, saying, `Abner son of Ner hath come unto the king, and he sendeth him away, and he goeth 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 has sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

24 A nd Joab cometh unto the king, and saith, `What hast thou done? lo, Abner hath come unto thee! why this -- thou hast sent him away, and he is really gone?

Then Joab came to the king and said, What hast thou done? Behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast let him go?

25 T hou hast known Abner son of Ner, that to deceive thee he came, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou art doing.'

Dost thou not know that Abner, the son of Ner, came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in and to know all that thou doest?

26 A nd Joab goeth out from David, and sendeth messengers after Abner, and they bring him back from the well of Sirah, and David knew not.

And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, who caused him to return from the well of Sirah, but David did not know it.

27 A nd Abner turneth back to Hebron, and Joab turneth him aside unto the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and smiteth him there in the fifth -- and he dieth -- for the blood of Asahel his brother.

And when Abner had 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 nd David heareth afterwards and saith, `Acquitted I, and my kingdom, by Jehovah, unto the age, from the blood of Abner 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 i t doth stay on the head of Joab, and on all the house of his father, and there is not cut off from the house of Joab one having an issue, and leprous, and laying hold on a staff, and falling by a sword, and lacking 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 has an issue or that is a leper or that leans on a staff or that dies by the sword or that lacks bread.

30 A nd Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner because that he put to death Asahel their brother, in Gibeon, in battle.

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

31 A nd David saith unto Joab, and unto all the people who with him, `Rend your garments, and gird on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner;' and king David is going after the bier.

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

32 A nd they bury Abner in Hebron, and the king lifteth up his voice, and weepeth at the grave of Abner, and all the people weep;

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 lamenteth for Abner, and saith: -- `As the death of a fool doth Abner die?

And the king lamented over Abner and said, Abner died the death of a fool!

34 T hy hands not bound, And thy feet to fetters not brought nigh! As one falling before sons of evil -- Thou hast fallen!' and all the people add to weep over him.

Thy hands were not bound nor thy feet put into fetters. Thou didst fall as a man falls before wicked men. And all the people wept again over him.

35 A nd all the people come to cause David to eat bread while yet day, and David sweareth, saying, `Thus doth God to me, and thus He doth add, for -- before the going in of the sun, I taste no bread or any other thing.'

And when all the people came to cause David to eat food while it was yet day, David swore, saying, So do God to me, and more also if I taste bread or anything else until the sun is down.

36 A nd all the people have discerned, and it is good in their eyes, as all that the king hath done is good in the eyes of all the people;

And all the people understood, and it pleased them, for whatever the king did pleased all the people.

37 a nd all the people know, even all Israel, in that day, that it hath not been from the king -- to put to death Abner 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 A nd the king saith unto his servants, `Do ye not know that a prince and a great one hath fallen this day in Israel?

Then the king said unto his slaves, Do ye not know that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

39 a nd I to-day tender, and an anointed king: and these men, sons of Zeruiah, too hard for me; Jehovah doth recompense to the doer of the evil according to his evil.'

And I am this day a tender anointed king, and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me; the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.