2 Samuel 3
1 The war between Saul’s house and David’s house was long. David grew stronger and stronger, while Saul’s house grew weaker and weaker.
2 Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelite;
3 his second was Chileab, by Abigail, Nabal’s wife, the Carmelite; his third was Absalom, son of Maacah, daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;
4 his fourth was Adonijah, son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, son of Abital;
5 his sixth was Ithream, by Eglah, David’s wife. These sons were born to David in Hebron.
6 While the war between Saul’s house and David’s house continued, Abner was strengthening his position in Saul’s house.
7 Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you slept with my father’s concubine?”
8 Abner was furious at Ish-bosheth’s words and said, “Am I a dog’s head on Judah’s side? To this day I have been loyal to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and his friends, and I have not handed you over to David. Yet today you accuse me of wrongdoing over a woman!
9 May God do so to Abner, and more besides, if I do not do for David what the LORD swore to him:
10 to take the kingdom from Saul’s house and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”
11 Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he was afraid of him.
12 Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make a covenant with me, and I will stand with you to bring all Israel over to your side.”
13 David replied, “Good. I will make a covenant with you. I ask just one thing of you: you will not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see me.”
14 David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me back my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.”
15 Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish.
16 Her husband went with her, weeping as he followed her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back!” And he went back.
17 Abner spoke with the elders of Israel: “For a long time you have been seeking David to be king over you.
18 Now do it, because the LORD said to David, ‘By the hand of David my servant I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’”
19 Abner also spoke to the Benjaminites. Then Abner went to Hebron to tell David everything that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.
20 Abner came to David at Hebron with twenty men, and David held a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.
21 Abner said to David, “Let me get up and go gather all Israel to my lord the king. They will make a covenant with you, and you will rule over everything your heart desires.” David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
22 Just then David’s servants and Joab returned from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. Abner was no longer with David at Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.
23 When Joab and the whole army with him arrived, they told Joab, “Abner son of Ner came to the king, and the king sent him away. He went in peace.”
24 Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner came to you; why did you send him away? He has already gone!
25 You know Abner son of Ner. He came to deceive you, to learn your comings and goings, and to find out everything you are doing.”
26 Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah, but David knew nothing about it.
27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside inside the gate, as if to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the abdomen. Abner died for the blood of Asahel, Joab’s brother.
28 David heard about it afterward and said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before the LORD forever of the blood of Abner son of Ner.
29 May it fall on Joab’s head and on his father’s whole house! May Joab’s house never be without someone who has a discharge, or is a leper, or walks with a crutch, or falls by the sword, or lacks bread!”
30 Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in battle at Gibeon.
31 David said to Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” King David walked behind the bier.
32 They buried Abner in Hebron. The king raised his voice and wept at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept.
33 The king sang a lament for Abner and said, “Should Abner die as a fool dies?
34 Your hands were not bound, nor were your feet put in chains. You fell as one falls before wicked men.” And all the people wept for him again.
35 All the people came to urge David to eat bread while it was still day, but David swore, “May God do so to me, and more besides, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down!”
36 All the people noticed this, and it pleased them; everything the king did pleased all the people.
37 That day all the people and all Israel knew that Abner son of Ner’s death had not come from the king.
38 The king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a commander, a great man, has fallen today in Israel?
39 Today I am weak, though anointed king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too hard for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!”
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