2 Samuel 3

1 Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2 And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;

3 his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;

4 his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital;

5 and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron.

6 During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul.

7 Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”

8 Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman!

9 May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him:

10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”

11 And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”

13 “Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.”

14 Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.”

15 So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.

16 Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home.

17 Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king.

18 Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’”

19 Abner also spoke to the Benjamites. Then he went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.

20 When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them.

21 Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.

22 Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid, bringing with them a great plunder. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, because David had sent him on his way in peace.

23 When Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.”

24 So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away!

25 Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.”

26 As soon as Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David was unaware of it.

27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.

28 Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.

29 May it whirl over the head of Joab and over the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.”

30 (Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

31 Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier.

32 When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept.

33 And the king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner die the death of a fool?

34 Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. As a man falls before the wicked, so also you fell.” And all the people wept over him even more.

35 Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”

36 All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them.

37 So on that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel?

39 And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!”

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

3 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 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6 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 ¶ And Saul had a concubine, whose name [was] Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and [Ishbosheth] said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?

8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, 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 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

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

12 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 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 And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver [me] my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from [her] husband, [even] from Phaltiel the son of Laish.

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

17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past [to be] king over you:

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

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

34 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 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 And all the people took notice [of it], and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

37 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 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 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.

1 And there was a long battle between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David went and increased; and the house of Saul went and decreased.

2 And children were born unto David in Hebron: his firstborn son Amnon of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

3 the other: Chileab of Abigail, Nabal's wife, the Carmelite; the third: Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

4 The fourth Adonijah the son of Hagith; the fifth: Saphatiah the son of Abital;

5 The sixth, Jethream of Egla, David's wife. These were born unto David in Hebron.

6 And it came to pass, when there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner strengthened the house of Saul.

7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbosheth said unto Abner, Why layest thou with my father's concubine?

8 And Abner was very wroth at these words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I then a dog's head, that I do mercy against Judah to the house of Saul thy father, and to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into David's hand? And thou reckonest iniquity unto me this day for a woman?

9 God do unto Abner this, and that, if I do not do as the LORD David sware,

10 That the kingdom might be taken from the house of Saul, and that the throne of David might be established over Israel and over Judah from Dan even to Beersheba.

11 And again he could not answer him a word, for he was afraid.

12 And Abner sent messengers unto David for himself, saying, Whose land is this? And he said, Make thy covenant with me: behold, my hand shall be with thee, that I may return unto thee all Israel.

13 And he said, Well, I will make a covenant with thee. But this I pray thee, that thou see not my face; but bring thou first to me Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

14 And David sent messengers unto Ishbosheth the son of Saul, saying, Give me Michal my wife, whom I have entrusted to me with an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took them of the man Partiell the son of Lai.

16 And her husband went with her, and wept behind her unto Bahurim. And Abner said unto him, Return, and go. And he returned.

17 And Abner spake unto the elders of Israel, saying: Ye were long ago desirous of David, that he should reign over you.

18 Now therefore do it: for the LORD said of David, I will deliver my people Israel by the hand of David my servant out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

19 And Abner spake in the ears of Benjamin, and went to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that was good in Israel, and in all the house of Benjamin.

20 And it came to pass, when Abner was come to David to Hebron, and with him twenty men, that David made them a feast.

21 And Abner said unto David, I will arise, and go, and gather all Israel unto my lord the king, and they shall make a covenant with thee, that thou mayest be king, as thy soul desireth. So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

22 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from the men of war, bringing with them a great spoil. Now Abner was not with David in Hebron, but had sent him away, that he might go in peace.

23 And it came to pass, when Joab and all the host were come with him, that it was told him that Abner the son of Ner was come to the king, and that he had sent him away in peace.

24 And Joab went in unto the king, and said, What hast thou done? Behold, Abner is come unto thee: why hast thou sent him away from thee, that he is departed? 25! Knowest thou not Abner the son of Ner? For he is come to persuade thee, that he may know thy going out, and thy coming in, and know all that thou doest.

26 And when Joab was gone out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, to fetch him again from Borhazira: and David knew it not.

27 And it came to pass, when Abner was come again to Hebron, that Joab brought him into the midst of the gate to speak unto him privily, and there he smote him in the belly, and he died, because of the blood of Asahel his brother.

28 And it came to pass afterward, when David heard it, that he said, I am guiltless, and my kingdom before the LORD for ever, because of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.

29 And it shall fall upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father's house; and it shall not cease in the house of Joab, which hath a flow of pus, and leprosy, and walketh by the staff, and falleth by the sword, and lacketh bread.

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

31 And David said unto Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird sackcloth about you, and bear grief for Abner. And the king went after the coffin.

32 And when they buried Abner in Hebron, the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the sepulchre of Abner; and all the people wept also.

33 And the king bewailed Abner, saying, Abner died not, as a fool dieth.

34 Thy hands are not bound, neither are thy feet put in fetters: thou art fallen, as one falleth before wicked men. Then all the people wept for him still more.

35 And it came to pass, when all the people were come in to eat with David, while it was yet high day, that David sware, saying, God do this to me, and that, where I taste bread, or any thing, before the sun go down.

36 And all the people knew it, and all the good things that the king did pleased them in the sight of all the people.

37 And all the people and all Israel perceived that day that it was not of the king that Abner the son of Ner was slain.

38 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 But I am yet tender, and an anointed king. But the men, the children of Zeruiah, are grievous unto me. The LORD reward him that doeth evil according to his wickedness.