Now ^athere was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David became steadily stronger, while the house of Saul became steadily weaker.

2 ^aSons were born to David in Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by ^bAhinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 and his second, Chileab, by Abigail the ¹widow of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of ^aMaacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of ^bGeshur; 4 and the fourth, ^aAdonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5 and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron.

6 Now it happened that while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, ^aAbner was ¹strengthening himself in the house of Saul. 7 And Saul had a concubine whose name was ^aRizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and ¹Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” 8 Then Abner became very angry over Ish-bosheth’s ¹question and said, “^aAm I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and have not let you fall into the hands of David; yet today you call me to account for wrongdoing with ²that woman? 9 ^aMay God do so to ¹me, and more so, if ^bas the LORD has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for him: 10 ^ato transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, ^bfrom Dan even to Beersheba!” 11 And Ish-bosheth could no longer say a word in response to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers to David at his place, saying, “Whose is the land? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you.” 13 And he said, “Good! I will make a covenant with you, only I require one thing of you, ¹namely, that ^ayou shall not see my face unless you ^bfirst bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see ²me.” 14 So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed ^afor a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 Ish-bosheth sent men and ¹had her taken from her husband, from ²Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 And her husband went with her, weeping as he went, ¹following her as far as ^aBahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” So he returned.

17 Now Abner had a ¹consultation with ^athe elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you. 18 Now then, do it! For the LORD has spoken regarding David, saying, ‘^aBy the hand of My servant David ¹I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hands of all their enemies.’” 19 Abner also spoke ¹to Benjamin; and in addition Abner went to speak ²to David in Hebron everything that seemed good to Israel and to ^athe entire house of Benjamin.

20 Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David held a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21 Abner said to David, “Let me set out and go and ^agather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that ^byou may be king over all that your soul desires.” So David let Abner go, and he went in peace.

22 And behold, ^athe servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought a large amount of plunder with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, since he had let him go, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, they informed Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go on his way, 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 then have you let him go, so that he is already gone? 25 You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to gain your confidence, and to learn of ^ayour ¹going out and coming in and to find out everything that you are doing.”

26 When Joab left David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know about it. 27 So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there ^ahe struck him in the belly, so that he died on account of the blood of his brother Asahel. 28 Afterward, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before the LORD forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 ^aMay it turn upon the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not be eliminated from the house of Joab ^bsomeone who suffers a discharge, or has leprosy, or ¹holds the spindle, or falls by the sword, or lacks bread.” 30 So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner ^abecause he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “^aTear your clothes and put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David walked behind the bier. 32 And they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king raised his voice and wept at ^athe grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 33 And ^athe king sang a song of mourning for Abner and said,“Should Abner die as a fool dies?

35 Then all the people came ^ato provide ¹food for David in his distress while it was still day; but David vowed, saying, “^bMay God do so to me, and more so, if I taste bread or anything else ^cbefore the sun goes down.” 36 Now all the people took note of David’s vow, and it ¹pleased them, just as everything that the king did ²pleased all the people. 37 So all the people and all Israel understood on that day that it had not been the desire of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death. 38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a leader and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? 39 And I am ^aweak today, though anointed king; and these men, ^bthe sons of Zeruiah, are too difficult for me. ^cMay the LORD repay the evildoer in proportion to his evil.”

Now ^athe war between the house of Saul and the house of David was long; and David grew steadily stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker continually.

2 ^aAnd sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by ^bAhinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 and his second, Chileab, by Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of ^aMaacah, the daughter of Talmai king of ^bGeshur; 4 and the fourth, ^aAdonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5 and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David at Hebron.

6 Now it happened, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David that ^aAbner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had a concubine whose name was ^aRizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and ¹Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” 8 Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “^aAm I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show lovingkindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hands of David; and yet today you charge me with a guilt concerning the woman. 9 ^aMay God do so to Abner, and more also, if ^bas Yahweh has sworn to David, I do not do this for him, 10 ^ato transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, ^bfrom Dan even to Beersheba.” 11 And he could no longer respond a word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers to David in his place, saying, “Whose is the land? Cut your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to turn all Israel over to you.” 13 And he said, “Good! I will cut a covenant with you, but I ask one thing of you, ¹namely, ^ayou shall not see my face unless you ^bfirst bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.” 14 So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed ^afor one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from ¹Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 But her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her as far as ^aBahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” So he returned.

17 Now Abner had ¹consultation with ^athe elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you. 18 So now, do it! For Yahweh has spoken of David, saying, ‘^aBy the hand of My servant David ¹I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’” 19 Abner also spoke in the hearing of Benjamin; and in addition Abner went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that was good in the sight of Israel and in the sight of ^athe whole house of Benjamin.

20 Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21 And Abner said to David, “Let me arise and go and ^agather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may cut a covenant with you, and that ^byou may be king over all that your soul desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

22 And behold, ^athe servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much spoil with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 Now Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, and they told Joab, saying, “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 then have you sent him away and he is already gone? 25 You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you and to know of ^ayour going out and your coming in and to know all that you are doing.”

26 Then Joab came out from David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know it. 27 So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there ^ahe struck him in the belly so that he died on account of the blood of Asahel his brother. 28 Afterward David heard it, so he said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 ^aMay it whirl on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may ^bone who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who takes hold of a spindle, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread not be cut off from the house of Joab.” 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner ^abecause he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “^aTear your clothes and gird on sackcloth and lament before Abner.” And King David walked behind the bier. 32 Thus they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at ^athe grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 33 ^aAnd the king chanted a lament for Abner and said,“Should Abner die as a wicked fool dies?

35 Then all the people came ^ato ¹persuade David to eat bread while it was still day; but David swore an oath, saying, “^bMay God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else ^cbefore the sun goes down.” 36 Now all the people took note of it, and it was good in their sight, just as everything the king did was good in the sight of all the people. 37 So all the people and all Israel knew that day that it had not been the will of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death. 38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39 Thus I am ^aweak today, though anointed king; and these men ^bthe sons of Zeruiah are too difficult for me. ^cMay Yahweh repay the evildoer according to his evil.”

Now ^athere was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David grew steadily stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker continually.

2 ^aSons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by ^bAhinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 and his second, Chileab, by Abigail the ¹widow of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of ^aMaacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of ^bGeshur; 4 and the fourth, ^aAdonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5 and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David at Hebron.

6 It came about while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David that ^aAbner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had a concubine whose name was ^aRizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and ¹Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” 8 Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “^aAm I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hands of David; and yet today you charge me with a guilt concerning the woman. 9 ^aMay God do so to Abner, and more also, if ^bas the LORD has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for him, 10 ^ato transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, ^bfrom Dan even to Beersheba.” 11 And he could no longer answer Abner a word, because he was afraid of him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers to David in his place, saying, “Whose is the land? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you.” 13 He said, “Good! I will make a covenant with you, but I demand one thing of you, ¹namely, ^ayou shall not see my face unless you ^bfirst bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see ²me.” 14 So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed ^afor a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from ¹Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 But her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her as far as ^aBahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” So he returned.

17 Now Abner had ¹consultation with ^athe elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you. 18 Now then, do it! For the LORD has spoken of David, saying, ‘^aBy the hand of My servant David ¹I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’” 19 Abner also spoke in the hearing of Benjamin; and in addition Abner went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and to ^athe whole house of Benjamin.

20 Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21 Abner said to David, “Let me arise and go and ^agather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that ^byou may be king over all that your soul desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

22 And behold, ^athe servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much spoil 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 that was with him arrived, they told Joab, saying, “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 then have you sent him away and he is already gone? 25 You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you and to learn of ^ayour going out and coming in and to find out all that you are doing.”

26 When Joab came out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know it. 27 So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there ^ahe struck him in the belly so that he died on account of the blood of Asahel his brother. 28 Afterward when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before the LORD forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 ^aMay it ¹fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not fail from the house of Joab ^bone who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who takes hold of a distaff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.” 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner ^abecause he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “^aTear your clothes and gird on sackcloth and lament before Abner.” And King David walked behind the bier. 32 Thus they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at ^athe grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 33 ^aThe king chanted a lament for Abner and said,“Should Abner die as a fool dies?

35 Then all the people came ^ato ¹persuade David to eat bread while it was still day; but David vowed, saying, “^bMay God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else ^cbefore the sun goes down.” 36 Now all the people took note of it, and it ¹pleased them, just as everything the king did ²pleased all the people. 37 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the will of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death. 38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39 I am ^aweak today, though anointed king; and these men ^bthe sons of Zeruiah are too difficult for me. ^cMay the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil.”