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
.
And unto David were sons
born
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 born
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 strong
for the house
of Saul
.
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
?
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
?
So do God
to Abner
, and more also
, except, as the LORD
hath sworn
to David
, even so I do
to him;
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
.
And he could not answer
Abner
a word
again, because he feared
him.
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.
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
.
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
.
And Ishbosheth sent
, and took
her from her husband
, even from Phaltiel
the son
of Laish
.
And her husband went
with her along weeping
behind
her to Bahurim
. Then said
Abner
unto him, Go
, return
. And he returned
.
And Abner had communication
with the elders
of Israel
, saying
, Ye sought
for David
in times
past
to be king
over you:
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
?
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
.
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.
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
.
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
:
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
.
So Joab and Abishai
his brother
slew
Abner
, because he had slain
their brother
Asahel
at Gibeon
in the battle
.
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
.
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
.
And the king lamented
over Abner
, and said
, Died
Abner
as a fool
dieth
?
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.
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
.
And all the people took notice
of it , and it pleased
them: as whatsoever the king
did
pleased
all the people
.
For all the people and all Israel
understood
that day
that it was not of the king
to slay
Abner
the son
of Ner
.
And the king said
unto his servants
, Know
ye not that there is a prince
and a great man
fallen
this day
in Israel
?
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
.