3
1 Now
there was long
war between Saul’s
house and David’s
house. David grew
stronger and
stronger, but
Saul’s house grew
weaker and weaker.
2 Sons
were born to
David in Hebron.
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,
of Eglah, David’s
wife. These were
born to David
in Hebron.
6 While
there was war
between Saul’s
house and David’s
house, Abner made
himself strong in
Saul’s house.
7 Now Saul
had a concubine,
whose name was
Rizpah, the
daughter of Aiah;
and Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why
have you gone in
to my father’s
concubine?”
8 Then Abner
was very angry
about Ishbosheth’s words,
and said, “Am
I a dog’s
head that belongs
to Judah? Today
I show kindness
to your father
Saul’s house, to
his brothers, and
to his friends,
and have not
delivered you into
the hand of
David; and yet
you charge me
today with a
fault concerning
this woman!
9 God
do so to Abner,
and more also,
if, as the
LORD has sworn
to David, I don’t
do even so
to him:
10 to
transfer the
kingdom from Saul’s
house, and to
set up David’s
throne over Israel
and over Judah,
from Dan even
to Beersheba.”
11 He
could not
answer Abner another
word, because he
was afraid of
him.
12 Abner sent
messengers to
David on his
behalf, saying, “Whose
is the land?”
and saying, “Make
your alliance with
me, and behold,
my hand will
be with you
to bring all
Israel around to
you.”
13 David said,
“Good. I will
make a treaty
with you, but
one thing I
require of you.
That is, you
will not see
my face unless
you first bring
Michal, Saul’s
daughter, when you
come to see
my face.”
14 David
sent messengers
to Ishbosheth, Saul’s
son, saying, “Deliver
me my wife Michal,
whom I was given
to marry for
one hundred
foreskins of the
Philistines.”
15 Ishbosheth
sent and took
her from
her husband, Paltiel
the son of
Laish.
16 Her husband
went with her,
weeping as he
went, and followed
her to Bahurim.
Then Abner said to
him, “Go! Return!”
and he returned.
17 Abner had
communication with
the elders of
Israel, saying, “In
times past, you
sought for David
to be king
over you.
18 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
out of the
hand of the
Philistines, and
out of the
hand of all
their enemies.’ ”
19 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 to the
whole house of
Benjamin.
20 So Abner
came to David
to Hebron, and
twenty men with
him. David
made Abner and the
men who were
with him a
feast.
21 Abner said
to David, “I
will arise and
go, and will
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
soul desires.” David
sent Abner away;
and he went
in peace.
22 Behold,
David’s servants
and Joab came
from a raid
and brought in
a great plunder
with them;
but Abner was not
with David in
Hebron, for he
had sent him
away, and he
had gone in
peace.
23 When
Joab and all
the army who
was with him
had come, they
told Joab, “Abner
the son of
Ner came to
the king, and
he has sent
him away, and
he has gone
in peace.”
24 Then
Joab came to
the king and said,
“What have you
done? Behold, Abner
came to you.
Why is it
that you have
sent him away,
and he is
already gone?
25 You
know Abner the son
of Ner. He came
to deceive you,
and to know
your going out
and your coming
in, and to
know all that
you do.”
26 When
Joab had come
out from David,
he sent messengers
after Abner, and
they brought him
back from the
well of Sirah;
but David didn’t
know it.
27 When Abner
had returned to
Hebron, Joab took
him aside into
the middle of
the gate to
speak with him
quietly, and
struck him there
in the body,
so that he
died for the
blood of Asahel
his brother.
28 Afterward,
when David heard
it, he said, “I
and my kingdom
are guiltless
before the LORD
forever of the
blood of Abner the
son of Ner.
29 Let it
fall on the
head of Joab
and on all
his father’s house. Let
there not fail
from the house
of Joab one
who has a
discharge, or who
is a leper,
or who leans on
a staff, or
who falls by
the sword, or
who lacks bread.”
30 So
Joab and Abishai
his brother killed Abner,
because he had
killed their brother
Asahel at Gibeon
in the battle.
31 David said
to Joab and
to all the
people who were
with him, “Tear
your clothes, and clothe
yourselves with
sackcloth, and
mourn in front
of Abner.” King
David followed the
bier.
32 They
buried Abner in
Hebron; and the
king lifted up
his voice and
wept at Abner’s
grave; and all
the people wept.
33 The
king lamented
for Abner, and said, “Should
Abner die as a
fool dies?
34 Your
hands weren’t bound, and
your feet weren’t
put into fetters.
As a man
falls before the
children of
iniquity, so you
fell.”
All the people
wept again over
him.
35 All
the people came
to urge David to
eat bread while
it was yet
day; but David
swore, saying, “God do
so to me,
and more also,
if I taste
bread or anything
else, until the
sun goes down.”
36 All
the people took
notice of it,
and it pleased
them, as whatever
the king did
pleased all the
people.
37 So
all the people
and all Israel
understood that
day that it
was not of
the king to
kill Abner the son
of Ner.
38 The
king said to his
servants, “Don’t you
know that a
prince and a
great man has
fallen today in
Israel?
39 I
am weak today,
though anointed king.
These men, the
sons of Zeruiah
are too hard
for me. May
the LORD reward
the evildoer
according to his
wickedness.”