^{1 Ref} Now there was a long war between Saul's people and David's people; and David became stronger and stronger, but those on Saul's side became more and more feeble.

^{2 Ref} While David was in Hebron he became the father of sons: the oldest was Amnon, son of Ahinoam of Jezreel;

^{3 Ref} And the second, Chileab, whose mother was Abigail, the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom, son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;

^{4 Ref} And the fourth, Adonijah, the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah, the son of Abital;

⁵ And the sixth, Ithream, whose mother was David's wife Eglah. These were the sons of David, whose birth took place in Hebron.

^{6 Ref} Now while there was war between Saul's people and David's people, Abner was making himself strong among the supporters of Saul.

^{7 Ref} Now Saul had among his wives a woman named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Why have you taken my father's wife?

^{8 Ref} And Abner was very angry at the words of Ish-bosheth, and he said, Am I a dog's head of Judah? I am this day doing all in my power for the cause of your father Saul and for his brothers and his friends, and have not given you up into the hands of David, and now you say I have done wrong with a woman.

^{9 Ref} May God's punishment be on Abner, if I do not for David as the Lord in his oath has said,

^{10 Ref} And if I do not take away the kingdom from the family of Saul and make David ruler over Israel and Judah from Dan as far as Beer-sheba!

¹¹ And so great was Ish-bosheth's fear of Abner that he was not able to say a word in answer.

^{12 Ref} And Abner sent men to David at Hebron, saying, Make an agreement with me, and I will give you my support in getting all Israel on your side.

^{13 Ref} And he said, It is well; I will make an agreement with you, but on one condition, which is, that when you come before me, Saul's daughter Michal is to come with you; till she comes you will not see my face.

^{14 Ref} And David sent men to Saul's son Ish-bosheth, saying, Give me back Michal, my wife, whom I made mine for the price of the private parts of a hundred Philistines.

^{15 Ref} So Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel, the son of Laish.

^{16 Ref} And her husband went with her as far as Bahurim, weeping while he went. Then Abner said to him, Go back. And he went back.

¹⁷ Then Abner had a talk with the chief men of Israel, saying, In the past it was your desire to make David your king: so now, do it:

^{18 Ref} For the Lord has said of David, By the hand of my servant David I will make my people Israel safe from the Philistines, and from all who are against them.

^{19 Ref} And Abner said the same things to Benjamin: and he went to David in Hebron to make clear to him what seemed good to Israel and to all the people of Benjamin.

^{20 Ref} So Abner, with twenty men, came to Hebron, to David. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.

^{21 Ref} And Abner said to David, Now I will go, and make all Israel come to my lord the king, so that they may make an agreement with you, and your kingdom may be as wide as your heart's desire. Then David sent Abner away and he went in peace.

²² Now the servants of David and Joab had been out attacking a band of armed men, and they came back with a great store of goods taken in the fight: but Abner was no longer in Hebron with David, for he had sent him away and he had gone in peace.

²³ When Joab and his men came, news was given them that Abner, the son of Ner, had come to the king, who had let him go away again in peace.

^{24 Ref} Then Joab came to the king, and said, What have you done? when Abner came to you why did you send him away and let him go?

^{25 Ref} Is it not clear to you that Abner, the son of Ner, came with deceit to get knowledge of your going out and your coming in and of all you are doing?

^{26 Ref} And when Joab had come out from David, he sent men after Abner, and they overtook him at the water-spring of Sirah, and made him come back with them: but David had no knowledge of it.

^{27 Ref} And when Abner was back in Hebron, Joab took him on one side by the doorway of the town to have a word with him quietly, and there he gave him a wound in the stomach, causing his death in payment for the death of his brother Asahel.

^{28 Ref} And when David had word of it he said, May I and my kingdom be clear for ever in the eyes of the Lord from the blood of Abner, the son of Ner:

^{29 Ref} May it come on the head of Joab and all his father's family: among the men of Joab's family may there ever be some who are diseased or lepers, or who do the work of women, or are put to the sword, or are wasted from need of food!

^{30 Ref} So Joab and Abishai his brother put Abner to death, because he had put to death their brother Asahel in the fight at Gibeon.

^{31 Ref} And David said to Joab and all the people who were with him, Go in grief and put haircloth about you, in sorrow for Abner. And King David went after the dead body.

^{32 Ref} And they put Abner's body to rest in Hebron; and the king and all the people were weeping loudly by the resting-place of Abner's body.

^{33 Ref} And the king made a song of grief for Abner and said, Was the death of Abner to be like the death of a foolish man?

^{34 Ref} Your hands were free, your feet were not chained: like the downfall of a man before evil men, so was your fall. And the weeping of the people over him went on again.

^{35 Ref} And the people came to make David take food, while it was still day, but David with an oath said, May God's punishment be on me if I take a taste of bread or any other thing till the sun has gone down!

^{36 Ref} And all the people took note of it and were pleased: like everything the king did, it was pleasing to the people.

³⁷ So it was clear to Israel and to all the people on that day that the king was not responsible for the death of Abner, the son of Ner.

^{38 Ref} And the king said to his servants, Do you not see that a chief and a great man has come to his end today in Israel?

^{39 Ref} While I, though I am crowned king, have little strength, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are out of my control: may the Lord give to the evil-doer the reward of his evil-doing!

^{1 Ref} Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David waxed stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

^{2 Ref} And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his first-born was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

^{3 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul.

^{7 Ref} Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and `Ish-bosheth' said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?

^{8 Ref} Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head that belongeth to Judah? This day do I show kindness unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David; and yet thou chargest me this day with a fault concerning this woman.

^{9 Ref} God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Jehovah hath sworn to David, I do not even so to him;

^{10 Ref} to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba.

¹¹ And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

^{12 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

^{15 Ref} And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish.

^{16 Ref} And her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return: and he returned.

¹⁷ And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, In times past ye sought for David to be king over you:

^{18 Ref} now then do it; for Jehovah 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 Ref} 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 to the whole house of Benjamin.

^{20 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 mayest reign over all that thy soul desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

²² And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a foray, 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 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.

^{27 Ref} And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

^{28 Ref} And afterward, when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before Jehovah for ever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

^{29 Ref} let it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon 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 by the sword, or that lacketh bread.

^{30 Ref} So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

^{31 Ref} 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 followed the bier.

^{32 Ref} 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 Ref} And the king lamented for Abner, and said, Should Abner die as a fool dieth?

^{34 Ref} Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: As a man falleth before the children of iniquity, so didst thou fall. And all the people wept again over him.

^{35 Ref} And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David sware, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or aught else, till the sun be down.

^{36 Ref} And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as whatsoever 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 slay Abner the son of Ner.

^{38 Ref} 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 Ref} And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me: Jehovah reward the evil-doer according to his wickedness.

^{1 Ref} Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

^{2 Ref} To David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

^{3 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} It happened, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul.

^{7 Ref} Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and [Ish-bosheth] said to Abner, Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?

^{8 Ref} Then was Abner very angry for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? This day do I show kindness 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 yet you charge me this day with a fault concerning this woman.

^{9 Ref} God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Yahweh has sworn to David, I don't do even so to him;

^{10 Ref} to transfer 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 He could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

^{12 Ref} Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying [also], Make your league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with you, to bring about all Israel to you.

^{13 Ref} He said, Well; I will make a league with you; but one thing I require of you: that is, you shall not see my face, except you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face.

^{14 Ref} David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I pledged to be married to me for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

^{15 Ref} Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish.

^{16 Ref} Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then said Abner 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 Ref} now then do it; for Yahweh 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 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} 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, the servants of David and Joab came from a foray, 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 who was with him had 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 Ref} 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 quite gone?

^{25 Ref} You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do.

^{26 Ref} When Joab was 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 Ref} When Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst 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 Ref} Afterward, when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

^{29 Ref} let it fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.

^{30 Ref} So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

^{31 Ref} David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, Tear your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. King David followed the bier.

^{32 Ref} 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 Ref} The king lamented for Abner, and said, Should Abner die as a fool dies?

^{34 Ref} Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters: As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so did you fall. All the people wept again over him.

^{35 Ref} All the people came to cause 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 be down.

^{36 Ref} 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 Ref} The king said to his servants, "Don't you know that there a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?

^{39 Ref} I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May Yahweh reward the evil-doer according to his wickedness."