1Now there was long752 war4421 between the house1004 of Saul7586 and the house1004 of David1732: but David1732 waxed1980 stronger2390 and stronger2390, and the house1004 of Saul7586 waxed1980 weaker1800 and weaker1800.
2And unto David1732 were sons1121 born3205 3205 in Hebron2275: and his firstborn1060 was Amnon550, of Ahinoam293 the Jezreelitess3159;
3And his second4932, Chileab3609, of Abigail26 the wife802 of Nabal5037 the Carmelite3761; and the third7992, Absalom53 the son1121 of Maacah4601 the daughter1323 of Talmai8526 king4428 of Geshur1650;
4And the fourth7243, Adonijah138 the son1121 of Haggith2294; and the fifth2549, Shephatiah8203 the son1121 of Abital37;
5And the sixth8345, Ithream3507, by Eglah5698 David's1732 wife802. These were born3205 to David1732 in Hebron2275.
6And it came to pass, while there was war4421 between the house1004 of Saul7586 and the house1004 of David1732, that Abner74 made himself strong2388 for the house1004 of Saul7586.
7And Saul7586 had a concubine6370, whose name8034 was Rizpah7532, the daughter1323 of Aiah345: and Ishbosheth said559 to Abner74, Wherefore hast thou gone in935 unto my father's1 concubine6370?
8Then was Abner74 very3966 wroth2734 for the words1697 of Ishbosheth378, and said559, Am I a dog's3611 head7218, which against Judah3063 do shew6213 kindness2617 this day3117 unto the house1004 of Saul7586 thy father1, to his brethren251, and to his friends4828, and have not delivered4672 thee into the hand3027 of David1732, that thou chargest6485 me to day3117 with a fault5771 concerning this woman802?
9So do6213 God430 to Abner74, and more also3254, except, as the LORD3068 hath sworn7650 to David1732, even so I do6213 to him;
10To translate5674 the kingdom4467 from the house1004 of Saul7586, and to set up6965 the throne3678 of David1732 over Israel3478 and over Judah3063, from Dan1835 even to Beersheba884.
11And he could3201 not answer7725 Abner74 a word1697 again, because he feared3372 him.
12And Abner74 sent7971 messengers4397 to David1732 on his behalf, saying559, Whose is the land776? saying559 also, Make3772 thy league1285 with me, and, behold, my hand3027 shall be with thee, to bring about5437 all Israel3478 unto thee.
13And he said559, Well2896; I will make3772 a league1285 with thee: but one259 thing1697 I require7592 of thee, that is559, Thou shalt not see7200 my face6440, except thou first6440 bring935 Michal4324 Saul's7586 daughter1323, when thou comest935 to see7200 my face6440.
14And David1732 sent7971 messengers4397 to Ishbosheth378 Saul's7586 son1121, saying559, Deliver5414 me my wife802 Michal4324, which I espoused781 to me for an hundred3967 foreskins6190 of the Philistines6430.
15And Ishbosheth378 sent7971, and took3947 her from her husband376, even from Phaltiel6409 the son1121 of Laish3889 3919.
16And her husband376 went3212 with her along weeping1980 1058 behind310 her to Bahurim980. Then said559 Abner74 unto him, Go3212, return7725. And he returned7725.
17And Abner74 had communication1961 1697 with the elders2205 of Israel3478, saying559, Ye sought1245 for David1732 in times8543 past8032 to be king4428 over you:
18Now then do6213 it: for the LORD3068 hath spoken559 of David1732, saying559, By the hand3027 of my servant5650 David1732 I will save3467 my people5971 Israel3478 out of the hand3027 of the Philistines6430, and out of the hand3027 of all their enemies341.
19And Abner74 also spake1696 in the ears241 of Benjamin1144: and Abner74 went3212 also to speak1696 in the ears241 of David1732 in Hebron2275 all that seemed5869 good2896 to Israel3478, and that seemed good5869 to the whole house1004 of Benjamin1144.
20So Abner74 came935 to David1732 to Hebron2275, and twenty6242 men582 with him. And David1732 made6213 Abner74 and the men582 that were with him a feast4960.
21And Abner74 said559 unto David1732, I will arise6965 and go3212, and will gather6908 all Israel3478 unto my lord113 the king4428, that they may make3772 a league1285 with thee, and that thou mayest reign4427 over all that thine heart5315 desireth183. And David1732 sent7971 Abner74 away7971; and he went3212 in peace7965.
22And, behold, the servants5650 of David1732 and Joab3097 came935 from pursuing a troop1416, and brought in935 a great7227 spoil7998 with them: but Abner74 was not with David1732 in Hebron2275; for he had sent him away7971, and he was gone3212 in peace7965.
23When Joab3097 and all the host6635 that was with him were come935, they told5046 Joab3097, saying559, Abner74 the son1121 of Ner5369 came935 to the king4428, and he hath sent him away7971, and he is gone3212 in peace7965.
24Then Joab3097 came935 to the king4428, and said559, What hast thou done6213? behold, Abner74 came935 unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away7971, and he is quite1980 gone3212?
25Thou knowest3045 Abner74 the son1121 of Ner5369, that he came935 to deceive6601 thee, and to know3045 thy going out4161 and thy coming in4126 3996, and to know3045 all that thou doest6213.
26And when Joab3097 was come out3318 from David1732, he sent7971 messengers4397 after310 Abner74, which brought him again7725 from the well953 of Sirah5626: but David1732 knew3045 it not.
27And when Abner74 was returned7725 to Hebron2275, Joab3097 took him aside5186 in413 8432 the gate8179 to speak1696 with him quietly7987, and smote5221 him there under the fifth2570 rib, that he died4191, for the blood1818 of Asahel6214 his brother251.
28And afterward310 when David1732 heard8085 it, he said559, I and my kingdom4467 are guiltless5355 before the LORD3068 for5704 ever5769 from the blood1818 of Abner74 the son1121 of Ner5369:
29Let it rest2342 on the head7218 of Joab3097, and on all his father's1 house1004; and let there not fail3772 from the house1004 of Joab3097 one that hath an issue2100, or that is a leper6879, or that leaneth2388 on a staff6418, or that falleth5307 on the sword2719, or that lacketh2638 bread3899.
30So Joab3097 and Abishai52 his brother251 slew2026 Abner74, because he had slain4191 their brother251 Asahel6214 at Gibeon1391 in the battle4421.
31And David1732 said559 to Joab3097, and to all the people5971 that were with him, Rend7167 your clothes899, and gird2296 you with sackcloth8242, and mourn5594 before6440 Abner74. And king4428 David1732 himself followed1980 310 the bier4296.
32And they buried6912 Abner74 in Hebron2275: and the king4428 lifted up5375 his voice6963, and wept1058 at the grave6913 of Abner74; and all the people5971 wept1058.
33And the king4428 lamented6969 over Abner74, and said559, Died4191 Abner74 as a fool5036 dieth4194?
34Thy hands3027 were not bound631, nor thy feet7272 put5066 into fetters5178: as a man falleth5307 before6440 wicked5766 men1121, so fellest5307 thou. And all the people5971 wept1058 again3254 over him.
35And when all3605 the people5971 came935 to cause1262 David1732 to eat1262 meat3899 while it was yet5750 day3117, David1732 sware7650, saying559, So do6213 God430 to me, and more also3254, if I taste2938 bread3899, or ought3972 else, till6440 the sun8121 be down935.
36And all the people5971 took notice5234 of it, and it pleased3190 5869 them: as whatsoever the king4428 did6213 pleased5869 2896 all the people5971.
37For all the people5971 and all Israel3478 understood3045 that day3117 that it was not of the king4428 to slay4191 Abner74 the son1121 of Ner5369.
38And the king4428 said559 unto his servants5650, Know3045 ye not that there is a prince8269 and a great man1419 fallen5307 this day3117 in Israel3478?
39And I am this day3117 weak7390, though anointed4886 king4428; and these men582 the sons1121 of Zeruiah6870 be too hard7186 for me: the LORD3068 shall reward7999 the doer of evil6213 according to his wickedness7451.