Chapter 3

Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger⁶ and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker⁶ and weaker.

And unto David were sons born^{11 3205 27} in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

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;

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

And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born²⁷ to David in Hebron.

And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong¹⁰² for the house of Saul.

And Saul had a concubine, whose name [was] Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and [Ishbosheth] said⁴ to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in¹ unto my father's concubine?

Then was Abner very wroth⁴ for the words of Ishbosheth, and said,⁴ [Am] I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew⁴ kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered⁵² thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest⁴ me to day with a fault concerning this woman?

So do⁴ God to Abner, and more⁵⁵ also, except, as the LORD hath sworn⁸ to David, even so I do⁴ to him;

To translate⁵³ the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up⁵³ the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.

And he could¹ not answer⁵³ Abner a word again, because he feared² him.

And Abner sent⁴ messengers to David on his behalf, saying,² Whose [is] the land? saying² [also], Make³ thy league with me, and, behold, my hand [shall be] with thee, to bring about⁵³ all Israel unto thee.

And he said,⁴ Well; I will make⁴ a league with thee: but one thing I require⁶ of thee, that is,² Thou shalt not see⁴ my face, except thou first bring⁵³ Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest² to see² my face.

And David sent⁴ messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying,² Deliver³ [me] my wife Michal, which I espoused¹⁴ to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

And Ishbosheth sent,⁴ and took⁴ her from [her] husband, [even] from Phaltiel the son of Laish. ³⁹¹⁹

And her husband went⁴ with her along² weeping² behind her to Bahurim. Then said⁴ Abner unto him, Go,³ return.³ And he returned.⁴

And Abner had¹ communication with the elders of Israel, saying,² Ye sought¹⁸ for David in times past ⁸⁰³² [to be] king over you:

Now then do³ [it]: for the LORD hath spoken¹ of David, saying,² By the hand of my servant David I will save⁵³ my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.⁶

And Abner also spake¹⁷ in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went⁴ also to speak¹⁵ in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.

So Abner came⁴ to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made⁴ Abner and the men that [were] with him a feast.

And Abner said⁴ unto David, I will arise⁴ and go,⁴ and will gather⁴ all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make⁴ a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign¹ over all that thine heart desireth.¹⁷ And David sent Abner away;¹⁷ and he went⁴ in peace.

And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came⁶ from [pursuing] a troop, and brought in⁵² a great spoil with them: but Abner [was] not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away,¹⁴ and he was gone⁴ in peace.

When Joab and all the host that [was] with him were come,¹ they told⁵⁵ Joab, saying,² Abner the son of Ner came¹ to the king, and he hath sent him away,¹⁷ and he is gone⁴ in peace.

Then Joab came⁴ to the king, and said,⁴ What hast thou done?¹ behold, Abner came⁶ unto thee; why [is] it [that] thou hast sent him away,¹⁴ and he is quite² gone?⁴

Thou knowest¹ Abner the son of Ner, that he came¹ to deceive¹⁵ thee, and to know² thy going out and thy coming in, ³⁹⁹⁶ and to know² all that thou doest.⁶

And when Joab was come out⁴ from David, he sent⁴ messengers after Abner, which brought him again⁵⁵ from the well of Sirah: but David knew¹ [it] not.

And when Abner was returned⁴ to Hebron, Joab took him aside⁵⁵ in ⁸⁴³² the gate to speak¹⁵ with him quietly, and smote⁵⁵ him there under the fifth [rib], that he died,⁴ for the blood of Asahel his brother.

And afterward when David heard⁴ [it], he said,⁴ I and my kingdom [are] guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

Let it rest⁴ on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail¹¹ from the house of Joab one that hath an issue,⁶ or that is a leper,³⁰ or that leaneth⁵⁶ on a staff, or that falleth⁶ on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

So Joab and Abishai his brother slew¹ Abner, because he had slain⁵² their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

And David said⁴ to Joab, and to all the people that [were] with him, Rend³ your clothes, and gird³ you with sackcloth, and mourn³ before Abner. And king David [himself] followed^{6 310} the bier.

And they buried⁴ Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up⁴ his voice, and wept⁴ at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.⁴

And the king lamented³⁴ over Abner, and said,⁴ Died⁴ Abner as a fool dieth?

Thy hands [were] not bound,⁷ nor thy feet put⁹⁰ into fetters: as a man falleth² before wicked men, [so] fellest¹ thou. And all the people wept² again⁵⁵ over him.

And when all the people came⁴ to cause David to eat⁵³ meat while it was yet day, David sware,¹¹ saying,² So do⁴ God to me, and more⁵⁵ also, if I taste⁴ bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.²

And all the people took notice⁵² [of it], and it pleased^{4 5869} them: as whatsoever the king did¹ pleased ²⁸⁹⁶ all the people.

For all the people and all Israel understood⁴ that day that it was not of the king to slay⁵³ Abner the son of Ner.

And the king said⁴ unto his servants, Know⁴ ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen¹ this day in Israel?

And I [am] this day weak, though anointed⁷ king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah [be] too hard for me: the LORD shall reward¹⁷ the doer⁶ of evil according to his wickedness.