2Sa 3 | ABEn | STEP | And there was war for a long time between the house of Saul, and between the house of David. And the house of David went and strengthened. And the house of Saul went and weakened.

‏ 2 Samuel 3

CHAPTER 3 The House of Saul Wars with the House of David

1 And there was war for a long time between the house of Saul, and between the house of David. And the house of David went and strengthened. And the house of Saul went and weakened. 2 And were born to David in Hebron [²sons ¹six], and [²was ¹his first-born] was Amnon by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 and his second was Chileab of Abigail the Carmelitess; and the third was Absalom son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; 4 and the fourth was Adonijah son of Haggith; and the fifth was Shephatiah by Abital; 5 and the sixth was Ithream of Eglah wife of David. These were born to David in Hebron. 6 And it came to pass in the being the war between the house of Saul, and between the house of David, that Abner was holding rule over the house of Saul. 7 And to Saul was a concubine, and the name to her was Rizpah, daughter of Aiah. And [⁴said ¹Ishbosheth ²son ³of Saul] to Abner, Why is it that you enter to the concubine of my father? 8 And [²was enraged ³exceedingly ¹Abner] on account of this word by Ishbosheth. And Abner said to him, Am [³head ²a dog's ¹I] that I executed today mercy with the house of Saul your father, and with his brethren, and with his acquaintances, and did not desert to the house of David, that you seek anxiously about me concerning injustice to a woman today? 9 Thus may God do to Abner, and thus may he add to him that as the lord swore by an oath to David, that so I should do the same to him in this day, 10 to remove the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to raise up the throne of David over Israel, and over Judah, from Dan until Beer-sheba. 11 And [²was not ³able ⁴still ¹Ishbosheth] to answer Abner's utterance, because of fearing him.

Abner Ordains a Covenant with David

12 And Abner sent messengers to David in Hebron, saying, [²ordain ³a covenant ¹You] with me! And behold, My hand is with you to return to you all Israel. 13 And David said, Well, I shall ordain with you a covenant, except [²word ¹one] I ask from you, saying, You shall not see my face, if you do not lead Michal daughter of Saul, in your coming to behold my face. 14 And David sent [²to ³Ishbosheth ⁴son ⁵of Saul ¹messengers], saying, Give back to me my wife Michal which I took for a hundred foreskins of Philistines. 15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, from Phaltiel son of Laish. 16 And [³went ²husband ¹her] with her, going and weeping after her unto Behurim. And [²said ³to ⁴him ¹Abner], Go return! And he returned. 17 And the word of Abner came to the elders of Israel, saying, Yesterday and the third day before you sought David to reign over you. 18 And now act! for the lord spoke concerning David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will deliver my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all his enemies. 19 And Abner spoke in the ears of Benjamin. And Abner went to speak into the ears of David in Hebron, all as much as it pleased in the eyes of Israel, and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin. 20 And Abner came to David in Hebron, and with him twenty men. And David made [²to ³Abner ⁴and ⁵the ⁶men ⁷with ⁸him ¹a banquet]. 21 And Abner said to David, I will arise indeed and go, and gather together to my master the king all Israel; and I will ordain with you a covenant, and you shall reign over all whom [²desires ¹your soul]. And David sent away Abner, and he went in peace. 22 And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from the expedition, and [³spoils ²many ¹they brought] with themselves. And Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he went in peace. 23 And Joab, and all the military, the one with him, came. And they reported to Joab, saying, [⁴comes ¹Abner ²son ³of Ner] to David, and he has sent him, and he went forth in peace. 24 And Joab entered to the king, and he said to him, What is this you did? Behold, Abner came to you, and why have you sent him away, and he has gone forth in peace? 25 Or do you not know the evil of Abner son of Ner, that [²to deceive ³you ¹he came], and to know your entering and your exiting, and to know all together as much as you do? 26 And Joab went from David, and sent messengers after Abner, and they returned him from the well of Sirah; and David did not know.

Joab Kills Abner

27 And Abner returned to Hebron, and [²turned ³him ¹Joab] from the side of the gate to speak to him laying in wait. And he struck him there in the flank, and he died for the blood [²Asahel ¹of his brother]. 28 And David heard about these things, and he said, [²am innocent ¹I] and my kingdom from the lord and unto the eon of the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29 Let it arrive upon the head of Joab, and upon all the house of his father! and may there not cease to be one from the house of Joab having gonorrhea, and leprous, and holding a stave, and falling by the broadsword, and lacking bread loaves. 30 For Joab and Abishai his brother observed Abner, because he killed Asahel their brother in Gibeon in the battle. 31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people with him, Tear your clothes, and gird on sackcloths, and lament before Abner! And king David went behind the bier. 32 And they entombed Abner in Hebron, and [³lifted ¹the ²king] his voice and wept over the tomb of Abner, and [⁴wept ¹all ²the ³people].

David and Israel Lament Abner's Death

33 And [³lamented ¹the ²king] over Abner, and said, Shall [³according to ⁴the ⁵death ⁶of Nabal ²die ¹Abner], no. 34 Your hands were not tied, nor your feet not in shackles; you did not lead as Nabal; [²in the presence ³of a son ⁴of injustice ¹you fell]. And [⁴were brought together ¹all ²the ³people] to weep for him. 35 And [⁴came ¹all ²the ³people] to cause [²to eat ⁴at the wake ¹David ³bread loaves] still being day. And David swore by an oath, saying, Thus may [²do ³to me ¹God], and thus may he add yet more, that until [³should ⁴go down ¹the ²sun], in no way shall I taste bread nor any thing. 36 And all the people knew. And it was pleasing before them, all as much as [³did ¹the ²king] in the presence of all the people. 37 And [⁴knew ¹all ²the ³people], and all Israel in that day, that [⁶happened not ⁷by ⁸the ⁹king ¹the ²putting to death ³of Abner ⁴son ⁵of Ner]. 38 And [³said ¹the ²king] to his servants, Do you not know that a leader, and a great one has fallen in this day in Israel? 39 And that I am as a relative today, and one being placed for king. But these men, the sons of Zeruiah [²hard ³for me ¹are]. The lord should recompense to the one doing the wicked things according to his evil.