1 Now there was long|strong="H0752" war|strong="H4421" between the house|strong="H1004" of Saul|strong="H7586" and the house|strong="H1004" of David|strong="H1732": but David|strong="H1732" waxed|strong="H1980" stronger|strong="H2390" and stronger|strong="H2390", and the house|strong="H1004" of Saul|strong="H7586" waxed|strong="H1980" weaker|strong="H1800" and weaker|strong="H1800".
2 And unto David|strong="H1732" were sons|strong="H1121" born|strong="H3205" in Hebron|strong="H2275": and his firstborn|strong="H1060" was Amnon|strong="H0550", of Ahinoam|strong="H0293" the Jezreelitess|strong="H3159";
3 And his second|strong="H4932", Chileab|strong="H3609", of Abigail|strong="H0026" the wife|strong="H0802" of Nabal|strong="H5037" the Carmelite|strong="H3761"; and the third|strong="H7992", Absalom|strong="H0053" the son|strong="H1121" of Maacah|strong="H4601" the daughter|strong="H1323" of Talmai|strong="H8526" king|strong="H4428" of Geshur|strong="H1650";
4 And the fourth|strong="H7243", Adonijah|strong="H0138" the son|strong="H1121" of Haggith|strong="H2294"; and the fifth|strong="H2549", Shephatiah|strong="H8203" the son|strong="H1121" of Abital|strong="H0037";
5 And the sixth|strong="H8345", Ithream|strong="H3507", by Eglah|strong="H5698" David’s|strong="H1732" wife|strong="H0802". These were born|strong="H3205" to David|strong="H1732" in Hebron|strong="H2275".
6 And it came to pass, while there was war|strong="H4421" between the house|strong="H1004" of Saul|strong="H7586" and the house|strong="H1004" of David|strong="H1732", that Abner|strong="H0074" made himself strong|strong="H2388" for the house|strong="H1004" of Saul|strong="H7586".
7 And Saul|strong="H7586" had a concubine|strong="H6370", whose name|strong="H8034" was Rizpah|strong="H7532", the daughter|strong="H1323" of Aiah|strong="H0345": and Ish-bosheth said|strong="H0559" to Abner|strong="H0074", Wherefore hast thou gone in|strong="H0935" unto my father’s|strong="H0001" concubine|strong="H6370"?
8 Then was Abner|strong="H0074" very|strong="H3966" wroth|strong="H2734" for the words|strong="H1697" of Ish-bosheth|strong="H0378", and said|strong="H0559", Am I a dog’s|strong="H3611" head|strong="H7218", which against Judah|strong="H3063" do shew|strong="H6213" kindness|strong="H2617" this day|strong="H3117" unto the house|strong="H1004" of Saul|strong="H7586" thy father|strong="H0001", to his brethren|strong="H0251", and to his friends|strong="H4828", and have not delivered|strong="H4672" thee into the hand|strong="H3027" of David|strong="H1732", that thou chargest|strong="H6485" me to day|strong="H3117" with a fault|strong="H5771" concerning this woman|strong="H0802"?
9 So do|strong="H6213" God|strong="H0430" to Abner|strong="H0074", and more also|strong="H3254", except, as the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* hath sworn|strong="H7650" to David|strong="H1732", even so I do|strong="H6213" to him;
10 To translate|strong="H5674" the kingdom|strong="H4467" from the house|strong="H1004" of Saul|strong="H7586", and to set up|strong="H6965" the throne|strong="H3678" of David|strong="H1732" over Israel|strong="H3478" and over Judah|strong="H3063", from Dan|strong="H1835" even to Beer-sheba|strong="H0884".
11 And he could|strong="H3201" not answer|strong="H7725" Abner|strong="H0074" a word|strong="H1697" again, because he feared|strong="H3372" him.
12 And Abner|strong="H0074" sent|strong="H7971" messengers|strong="H4397" to David|strong="H1732" on his behalf, saying|strong="H0559", Whose is the land|strong="H0776"? saying|strong="H0559" also, Make|strong="H3772" thy league|strong="H1285" with me, and, behold, my hand|strong="H3027" shall be with thee, to bring about|strong="H5437" all Israel|strong="H3478" unto thee.
13 And he said|strong="H0559", Well|strong="H2896"; I will make|strong="H3772" a league|strong="H1285" with thee: but one|strong="H0259" thing|strong="H1697" I require|strong="H7592" of thee, that is|strong="H0559", Thou shalt not see|strong="H7200" my face|strong="H6440", except thou first|strong="H6440" bring|strong="H0935" Michal|strong="H4324" Saul’s|strong="H7586" daughter|strong="H1323", when thou comest|strong="H0935" to see|strong="H7200" my face|strong="H6440".
14 And David|strong="H1732" sent|strong="H7971" messengers|strong="H4397" to Ish-bosheth|strong="H0378" Saul’s|strong="H7586" son|strong="H1121", saying|strong="H0559", Deliver|strong="H5414" me my wife|strong="H0802" Michal|strong="H4324", which I espoused|strong="H0781" to me for an hundred|strong="H3967" foreskins|strong="H6190" of the Philistines|strong="H6430".
15 And Ish-bosheth|strong="H0378" sent|strong="H7971", and took|strong="H3947" her from her husband|strong="H0376", even from Phaltiel|strong="H6409" the son|strong="H1121" of Laish|strong="H3889".
16 And her husband|strong="H0376" went|strong="H3212" with her along weeping|strong="H1980" behind|strong="H0310" her to Bahurim|strong="H0980". Then said|strong="H0559" Abner|strong="H0074" unto him, Go|strong="H3212", return|strong="H7725". And he returned|strong="H7725".
17 And Abner|strong="H0074" had communication|strong="H1961" with the elders|strong="H2205" of Israel|strong="H3478", saying|strong="H0559", Ye sought|strong="H1245" for David|strong="H1732" in times|strong="H8543" past|strong="H8032" to be king|strong="H4428" over you:
18 Now then do|strong="H6213" it: for the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* hath spoken|strong="H0559" of David|strong="H1732", saying|strong="H0559", By the hand|strong="H3027" of my servant|strong="H5650" David|strong="H1732" I will save|strong="H3467" my people|strong="H5971" Israel|strong="H3478" out of the hand|strong="H3027" of the Philistines|strong="H6430", and out of the hand|strong="H3027" of all their enemies|strong="H0341".
19 And Abner|strong="H0074" also spake|strong="H1696" in the ears|strong="H0241" of Benjamin|strong="H1144": and Abner|strong="H0074" went|strong="H3212" also to speak|strong="H1696" in the ears|strong="H0241" of David|strong="H1732" in Hebron|strong="H2275" all that seemed|strong="H5869" good|strong="H2896" to Israel|strong="H3478", and that seemed good|strong="H5869" to the whole house|strong="H1004" of Benjamin|strong="H1144".
20 So Abner|strong="H0074" came|strong="H0935" to David|strong="H1732" to Hebron|strong="H2275", and twenty|strong="H6242" men|strong="H0582" with him. And David|strong="H1732" made|strong="H6213" Abner|strong="H0074" and the men|strong="H0582" that were with him a feast|strong="H4960".
21 And Abner|strong="H0074" said|strong="H0559" unto David|strong="H1732", I will arise|strong="H6965" and go|strong="H3212", and will gather|strong="H6908" all Israel|strong="H3478" unto my lord|strong="H0113" the king|strong="H4428", that they may make|strong="H3772" a league|strong="H1285" with thee, and that thou mayest reign|strong="H4427" over all that thine heart|strong="H5315" desireth|strong="H0183". And David|strong="H1732" sent|strong="H7971" Abner|strong="H0074" away|strong="H7971"; and he went|strong="H3212" in peace|strong="H7965".
22 And, behold, the servants|strong="H5650" of David|strong="H1732" and Joab|strong="H3097" came|strong="H0935" from pursuing a troop|strong="H1416", and brought in|strong="H0935" a great|strong="H7227" spoil|strong="H7998" with them: but Abner|strong="H0074" was not with David|strong="H1732" in Hebron|strong="H2275"; for he had sent him away|strong="H7971", and he was gone|strong="H3212" in peace|strong="H7965".
23 When Joab|strong="H3097" and all the host|strong="H6635" that was with him were come|strong="H0935", they told|strong="H5046" Joab|strong="H3097", saying|strong="H0559", Abner|strong="H0074" the son|strong="H1121" of Ner|strong="H5369" came|strong="H0935" to the king|strong="H4428", and he hath sent him away|strong="H7971", and he is gone|strong="H3212" in peace|strong="H7965".
24 Then Joab|strong="H3097" came|strong="H0935" to the king|strong="H4428", and said|strong="H0559", What hast thou done|strong="H6213"? behold, Abner|strong="H0074" came|strong="H0935" unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away|strong="H7971", and he is quite|strong="H1980" gone|strong="H3212"?
25 Thou knowest|strong="H3045" Abner|strong="H0074" the son|strong="H1121" of Ner|strong="H5369", that he came|strong="H0935" to deceive|strong="H6601" thee, and to know|strong="H3045" thy going out|strong="H4161" and thy coming in|strong="H4126", and to know|strong="H3045" all that thou doest|strong="H6213".
26 And when Joab|strong="H3097" was come out|strong="H3318" from David|strong="H1732", he sent|strong="H7971" messengers|strong="H4397" after|strong="H0310" Abner|strong="H0074", which brought him again|strong="H7725" from the well|strong="H0953" of Sirah|strong="H5626": but David|strong="H1732" knew|strong="H3045" it not.
27 And when Abner|strong="H0074" was returned|strong="H7725" to Hebron|strong="H2275", Joab|strong="H3097" took him aside|strong="H5186" in|strong="H0413" the gate|strong="H8179" to speak|strong="H1696" with him quietly|strong="H7987", and smote|strong="H5221" him there under the fifth|strong="H2570" rib, that he died|strong="H4191", for the blood|strong="H1818" of Asahel|strong="H6214" his brother|strong="H0251".
28 And afterward|strong="H0310" when David|strong="H1732" heard|strong="H8085" it, he said|strong="H0559", I and my kingdom|strong="H4467" are guiltless|strong="H5355" before the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* for|strong="H5704" ever|strong="H5769" from the blood|strong="H1818" of Abner|strong="H0074" the son|strong="H1121" of Ner|strong="H5369":
29 Let it rest|strong="H2342" on the head|strong="H7218" of Joab|strong="H3097", and on all his father’s|strong="H0001" house|strong="H1004"; and let there not fail|strong="H3772" from the house|strong="H1004" of Joab|strong="H3097" one that hath an issue|strong="H2100", or that is a leper|strong="H6879", or that leaneth|strong="H2388" on a staff|strong="H6418", or that falleth|strong="H5307" on the sword|strong="H2719", or that lacketh|strong="H2638" bread|strong="H3899".
30 So Joab|strong="H3097" and Abishai|strong="H0052" his brother|strong="H0251" slew|strong="H2026" Abner|strong="H0074", because he had slain|strong="H4191" their brother|strong="H0251" Asahel|strong="H6214" at Gibeon|strong="H1391" in the battle|strong="H4421".
31 And David|strong="H1732" said|strong="H0559" to Joab|strong="H3097", and to all the people|strong="H5971" that were with him, Rend|strong="H7167" your clothes|strong="H0899", and gird|strong="H2296" you with sackcloth|strong="H8242", and mourn|strong="H5594" before|strong="H6440" Abner|strong="H0074". And king|strong="H4428" David|strong="H1732" himself followed|strong="H1980" the bier|strong="H4296".
32 And they buried|strong="H6912" Abner|strong="H0074" in Hebron|strong="H2275": and the king|strong="H4428" lifted up|strong="H5375" his voice|strong="H6963", and wept|strong="H1058" at the grave|strong="H6913" of Abner|strong="H0074"; and all the people|strong="H5971" wept|strong="H1058".
33 And the king|strong="H4428" lamented|strong="H6969" over Abner|strong="H0074", and said|strong="H0559", Died|strong="H4191" Abner|strong="H0074" as a fool|strong="H5036" dieth|strong="H4194"?
34 Thy hands|strong="H3027" were not bound|strong="H0631", nor thy feet|strong="H7272" put|strong="H5066" into fetters|strong="H5178": as a man falleth|strong="H5307" before|strong="H6440" wicked|strong="H5766" men|strong="H1121", so fellest|strong="H5307" thou. And all the people|strong="H5971" wept|strong="H1058" again|strong="H3254" over him.
35 And when all|strong="H3605" the people|strong="H5971" came|strong="H0935" to cause|strong="H1262" David|strong="H1732" to eat|strong="H1262" meat|strong="H3899" while it was yet|strong="H5750" day|strong="H3117", David|strong="H1732" sware|strong="H7650", saying|strong="H0559", So do|strong="H6213" God|strong="H0430" to me, and more also|strong="H3254", if I taste|strong="H2938" bread|strong="H3899", or ought|strong="H3972" else, till|strong="H6440" the sun|strong="H8121" be down|strong="H0935".
36 And all the people|strong="H5971" took notice|strong="H5234" of it, and it pleased|strong="H3190" them: as whatsoever the king|strong="H4428" did|strong="H6213" pleased|strong="H5869" all the people|strong="H5971".
37 For all the people|strong="H5971" and all Israel|strong="H3478" understood|strong="H3045" that day|strong="H3117" that it was not of the king|strong="H4428" to slay|strong="H4191" Abner|strong="H0074" the son|strong="H1121" of Ner|strong="H5369".
38 And the king|strong="H4428" said|strong="H0559" unto his servants|strong="H5650", Know|strong="H3045" ye not that there is a prince|strong="H8269" and a great man|strong="H1419" fallen|strong="H5307" this day|strong="H3117" in Israel|strong="H3478"?
39 And I am this day|strong="H3117" weak|strong="H7390", though anointed|strong="H4886" king|strong="H4428"; and these men|strong="H0582" the sons|strong="H1121" of Zeruiah|strong="H6870" be too hard|strong="H7186" for me: the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* shall reward|strong="H7999" the doer of evil|strong="H6213" according to his wickedness|strong="H7451".