2 Samuel 3

1The war between the house of Saul and the house of David was prolonged, and David kept growing stronger, while the house of Saul kept growing weaker.

2Sons were born to David in Hebron, and his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess.

3his second, Kileab, by Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur.

4the fourth, Adonijah son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah son of Abital.

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

6While the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was strengthening himself in the house of Saul.

7Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you go in to my father’s concubine?”

8Then Abner became very angry because of Ish-bosheth’s words, and he said, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? To this day I have shown covenant loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into David’s hand; yet today you charge me with guilt concerning this woman.”

9May God do so to Abner, and more also, if, just as Yahweh has sworn to David, so I do for him—

10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beer-sheba.

11And he could no longer answer Abner a word, because he feared him.

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

13He said, “Good. I will make a covenant with you. Only one thing I ask of you: You shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”

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

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

16Her husband went with her, walking and weeping behind her as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” So he returned.

17Abner had spoken with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time you have been seeking David to be king over you.”

18Now then, do it, for Yahweh has spoken concerning David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’

19Abner also spoke in the hearing of Benjamin, and Abner also went to speak in the hearing of David at Hebron all that seemed good in the eyes of Israel and in the eyes of the whole house of Benjamin.

20Abner came to David at Hebron, and twenty men were with him. And David made a feast for Abner and for the men who were with him.

21Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and you shall reign over all that your soul desires.” Then David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

22And behold, David’s servants and Joab came in from a raid and brought much plunder with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, because he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

23When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, they told Joab, saying, “Abner son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he went in peace.”

24Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why is this—you sent him away, and he has gone on his way?”

25You know Abner son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to learn your going out and your coming in, and to learn all that you are doing.

26Then Joab went out from David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it.

27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab drew him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the belly, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

28Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before Yahweh of the blood of Abner son of Ner.”

29May it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house, and may there never be cut off from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or is leprous, or holds a staff, or falls by the sword, or lacks bread.

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

31Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David was walking behind the bier.

32They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king lifted up his voice and wept at Abner’s grave, and all the people wept.

33And the king lamented over Abner and said, “Should Abner die as a fool dies?”

34Your hands were not bound, and your feet were not put into bronze fetters; as one falls before sons of injustice, so you have fallen. And all the people wept over him even more.

35Then all the people came to urge David to eat bread while it was still day, but David swore, saying, “May God do so to me, and more also, if before the sun goes down I taste bread or anything at all.”

36And all the people recognized it, and it was good in their eyes; for everything the king did was good in the eyes of all the people.

37So all the people and all Israel knew on that day that it was not from the king to put Abner son of Ner to death.

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

39And I am still weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me. May Yahweh repay the evildoer according to his evil.