2 Samuel

The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;

his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third was Absalom son of Maakah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

the fourth was Adonijah son of Haggith; the fifth was Shephatiah son of Abital;

and the sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.

During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.

Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah. Ish-boshes asked Abner, 'Why did you go in to my father’s concubine?'

Abner was very angry at Ish-boshes's words and said, 'Am I a dog’s head from Judah? Today I am showing loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and his friends, and I haven't delivered you into the hand of David. Now you charge me with a fault concerning this woman!'

'May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I don't do for David what the LORD has sworn to him, '

'to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba!'

Ish-boshes could not say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying, 'To whom does the land belong? Make a covenant with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you.'

David said, 'Good. I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require: you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see me.'

David also sent messengers to Ish-boshes son of Saul, saying, 'Give me my wife Michal, for whom I paid a hundred Philistine foreskins.'

So Ish-boshes sent for her and took her from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish.

Her husband went with her, weeping as he followed her all the way to Bahurim. But Abner said to him, 'Go, return!' So he returned.

Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, 'For some time you have wanted David to be your king.'

'Now then, do it! For the LORD has promised David, "By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies."'

Abner also spoke to the people of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin were pleased to do.

When Abner came to David in Hebron with twenty men, David held a feast for him and his men.

Abner said to David, 'I will go at once and gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.' So David sent Abner on his way, and he went in peace.

Just then, David’s servants and Joab returned from a raid, bringing much plunder with them. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for David had sent him away and he had gone in peace.

When Joab and all the army with him arrived, he was told, 'Abner son of Ner came to the king, and the king has sent him away, and he has gone in peace.'

Then Joab went to the king and said, 'What have you done? Look, Abner came to you; why did you send him away? Now he is gone!'

'You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you, to learn of your movements and to find out everything you are doing.'

When Joab left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know it.

When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside inside the gate, as if to speak with him privately, and there he stabbed him in the stomach. So he died because of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.

When David heard about it later, he said, 'I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the LORD of the blood of Abner son of Ner.'

'May it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house! May Joab’s house never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy, or who leans on a crutch, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks food!'

(So Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.)

Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, 'Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner.' King David himself followed the bier.

They buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried out at Abner's grave, and all the people wept.

The king sang this lament for Abner: 'Should Abner die as a fool dies?'

'Your hands were not bound, your feet were not put in chains. You fell as one falls before wicked men.' And all the people wept over him again.

Then the people came to urge David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, 'May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else until the sun goes down!'

All the people took notice and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them.

So on that day all the people and all Israel knew that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

Then the king said to his servants, 'Don't you realise that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?'

'And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too strong for me. May the LORD reward the evildoer according to his wickedness!'