2 Samuel 3
1. Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David:but David waxed * stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed * weaker and weaker.
2. And unto David were sons born * in Hebron: and 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, by Eglah David's wife. These were born * to David in Hebron.
6. And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong * for the house of Saul.
7. And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said * to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in * unto my father's concubine?
8. Then was Abner very wroth * for the words of Ishbosheth, and said * , Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew * kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered * thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest * me to day with a fault concerning this woman?
9. So do * God to Abner, and more also * , except, as the LORD hath sworn * to David, even so I do * to him;
10. To translate * 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. And he could * not answer * Abner a word again, because he feared * him.
12. 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. 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. And David sent * messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying * , Deliver * me my wife Michal, which I espoused * to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
15. And Ishbosheth sent * , and took * her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish * .
16. And her husband went * with her along weeping * behind her to Bahurim. Then said * Abner unto him, Go * , return * . And he returned * .
17. And Abner had communication * with the elders of Israel, saying * , Ye sought * for David in times past to be king over you:
18. Now then do * it: for the LORD 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. 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 that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.
20. 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. 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 league with thee, and that thou mayest reign * over all that thine heart desireth * . And David sent * Abner away * ; and he went * in peace.
22. And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came * from pursuing a troop, 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. 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. 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. And when Joab was come out * from David, he sent * messengers after Abner, which brought him again * from the well of Sirah: but David knew * it not.
27. And when Abner was returned * to Hebron, Joab took him aside * in the gate to speak * with him quietly, and smote * him there under the fifth rib, that he died * , for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28. And afterward when David heard * it, he said * , I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
29. Let it rest * on the head of Joab, and on 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 * on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
30. So Joab and Abishai his brother slew * Abner, because he had slain * their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
31. 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 himself followed * the bier.
32. 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. And the king lamented * over Abner, and said * , Died * Abner as a fool dieth?
34. Thy hands were not bound * , nor thy feet put * into fetters: as a man falleth * before wicked men,so fellest * thou. And all the people wept * again * over him.
35. And when all the people came * to cause * David to eat * meat while it was yet day, David sware * , saying * , So do * God to me, and more also * , if I taste * bread, or ought else, till the sun be down * .
36. And all the people took notice * of it, and it pleased * them: as whatsoever the king did * pleased all the people.
37. For all the people and all Israel understood * that day that it was not of the king to slay * Abner the son of Ner.
38. 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. And I am this day weak, though anointed * king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward * the doer of evil * according to his wickedness.
