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.

There 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

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

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

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,

His 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.

4 a nd the fourth Adonijah son of Haggith, and the fifth Shephatiah son of Abital,

The fourth was Adonijah the son of Haggith. The fifth was 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 was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David at Hebron. Abner Goes over with David

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,

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

Now 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?”

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?

Abner 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.

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:

May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David what the Lord has promised 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.'

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

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

And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner, because he was afraid of 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.'

Then 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.”

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.'

David 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.”

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.'

Then 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.”

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

So Ish-bosheth sent men to take her from her husband Paltiel 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.

But 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.

17 A nd the word of Abner was with the elders of Israel, saying, `Heretofore ye have been seeking David for king over you,

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

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 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.’”

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,

Abner 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.

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.

Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron. And David made a special supper for Abner and the men who 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.

Abner 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

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;

Then 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.

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 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.”

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 have you done? See, Abner came to you. Why then have you sent him away, so that he is gone?

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.'

You 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.”

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.

When Joab left David, he sent men after Abner. They brought him back 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.

When 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.

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;

When 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.

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.'

May 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.”

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 his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had killed their brother in the battle at Gibeon. David Shows Sorrow for Abner

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 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.

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;

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

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

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

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.

Your 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.

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.'

Then 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.”

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;

All the people saw it, and it pleased them. Everything 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.

So 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.

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 to his servants, “Do you not know that a leader, and a great man has 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 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.”