Dual Panel1Now there was a long<752> war<4421> between<996> the house<1004> of Saul<7586> and the house<1004> of David<1732>; and David<1732> grew<1980> steadily<1980> stronger<2388>, but the house<1004> of Saul<7586> grew<1980> weaker<1800> continually<1980>.
2Sons<1121> were born<3205> to David<1732> at Hebron<2275>: his firstborn<1060> was Amnon<550>, by Ahinoam<293> the Jezreelitess<3159>;
3and his second<4932>, Chileab<3609>, by Abigail<26> the widow<802> of Nabal<5037> the Carmelite<3761>; and the third<7992>, Absalom<53> the son<1121> of Maacah<4601>, the daughter<1323> of Talmai<8526>, king<4428> of Geshur<1650>;
4and the fourth<7243>, Adonijah<138> the son<1121> of Haggith<2294>; and the fifth<2549>, Shephatiah<8203> the son<1121> of Abital<37>;
5and the sixth<8345>, Ithream<3507>, by David's<1732> wife<802> Eglah<5698>. These<428> were born<3205> to David<1732> at Hebron<2275>.
6It came<1961> about while there was war<4421> between<996> the house<1004> of Saul<7586> and the house<1004> of David<1732> that Abner<74> was making<2388> himself strong<2388> in the house<1004> of Saul<7586>.
7Now Saul<7586> had a concubine<6370> whose name<8034> was Rizpah<7532>, the daughter<1323> of Aiah<345>; and Ish-bosheth said<559> to Abner<74>, "Why<4069> have you gone<935> in to my father's<1> concubine<6370>?"
8Then Abner<74> was very<3966> angry<2734> over<5921> the words<1697> of Ish-bosheth<378> and said<559>, "Am I a dog's<3611> head<7218> that belongs to Judah<3063>? Today<3117> I show<6213> kindness<2617> to the house<1004> of Saul<7586> your father<1>, to his brothers<251> and to his friends<4828>, and have not delivered<4672> you into the hands<3027> of David<1732>; and yet today<3117> you charge<6485> me with a guilt<5771> concerning the woman<802>.
9"May God<430> do<6213> so<3541> to Abner<74>, and more<3254> also<3541>, if<3588> as the LORD<3068> has sworn<7650> to David<1732>, I do not accomplish<6213> this<3651> for him,
10to transfer<5674> the kingdom<4467> from the house<1004> of Saul<7586> and to establish<6965> the throne<3678> of David<1732> over<5921> Israel<3478> and over<5921> Judah<3063>, from Dan<1835> even to Beersheba<884>."
11And he could<3201> no<3808> longer<5750> answer<7725> Abner<74> a word<1697>, because<4480> he was afraid<3372> of him.
12Then Abner<74> sent<7971> messengers<4397> to David<1732> in his place<8478>, saying<559>, "Whose<4310> is the land<776>? Make<3772> your covenant<1285> with me, and behold<2009>, my hand<3027> shall be with you to bring<5437> all<3605> Israel<3478> over<5437> to you."
13He said<559>, "Good<2896>! I will make<3772> a covenant<1285> with you, but I demand<7592> one<259> thing<1697> of you, namely<559>, you shall not see<7200> my face<6440> unless<3588><518> you first<6440> bring<935> Michal<4324>, Saul's<7586> daughter<1323>, when you come<935> to see<7200> me."
14So David<1732> sent<7971> messengers<4397> to Ish-bosheth<378>, Saul's<7586> son<1121>, saying<559>, "Give<5414> me my wife<802> Michal<4324>, to whom<834> I was betrothed<781> for a hundred<3967> foreskins<6190> of the Philistines<6430>."
15Ish-bosheth<378> sent<7971> and took<3947> her from her husband<376>, from Paltiel<6409> the son<1121> of Laish<3919>.
16But her husband<376> went<1980> with her, weeping<1058> as he went<1980>, and followed<310> her as far<5704> as Bahurim<980>. Then Abner<74> said<559> to him, "Go<1980>, return<7725>." So he returned<7725>.
17Now Abner<74> had<1961> consultation<1697> with the elders<2205> of Israel<3478>, saying<559>, "In times<1571><8032><8543> past<8543><8032> you were seeking<1245> for David<1732> to be king<4428> over<5921> you.
18"Now<6258> then, do<6213> it! For the LORD<3068> has spoken<559> of David<1732>, saying<559>, 'By the hand<3027> of My servant<5650> David<1732> I will save<3467> My people<5971> Israel<3478> from the hand<3027> of the Philistines<6430> and from the hand<3027> of all<3605> their enemies<340>.'"
19Abner<74> also<1571> spoke<1696> in the hearing<241> of Benjamin<1144>; and in addition<1571> Abner<74> went<1980> to speak<1696> in the hearing<241> of David<1732> in Hebron<2275> all<3605> that seemed good<2895> to Israel<3478> and to the whole<3605> house<1004> of Benjamin<1144>.
20Then Abner<74> and twenty<6242> men<376> with him came<935> to David<1732> at Hebron<2275>. And David<1732> made<6213> a feast<4960> for Abner<74> and the men<376> who<834> were with him.
21Abner<74> said<559> to David<1732>, "Let me arise<6965> and go<1980> and gather<6908> all<3605> Israel<3478> to my lord<113> the king<4428>, that they may make<3772> a covenant<1285> with you, and that you may be king<4427> over all<3605> that your soul<5315> desires<183>." So David<1732> sent<7971> Abner<74> away<7971>, and he went<1980> in peace<7965>.
22And behold<2009>, the servants<5650> of David<1732> and Joab<3097> came<935> from a raid<1416> and brought<935> much<7227> spoil<7998> with them; but Abner<74> was not with David<1732> in Hebron<2275>, for he had sent<7971> him away<7971>, and he had gone<1980> in peace<7965>.
23When Joab<3097> and all<3605> the army<6635> that was with him arrived<935>, they told<5046> Joab<3097>, saying<559>, "Abner<74> the son<1121> of Ner<5369> came<935> to the king<4428>, and he has sent<7971> him away<7971>, and he has gone<1980> in peace<7965>."
24Then Joab<3097> came<935> to the king<4428> and said<559>, "What<4100> have you done<6213>? Behold<2009>, Abner<74> came<935> to you; why<4100> then<2088> have you sent<7971> him away<7971> and he is already<1980> gone<1980>?
25"You know<3045> Abner<74> the son<1121> of Ner<5369>, that he came<935> to deceive<6601> you and to learn<3045> of your going<4161> out and coming<4126> in and to find<3045> out all<3605> that you are doing<6213>."
26When Joab<3097> came<3318> out from David<1732>, he sent<7971> messengers<4397> after<310> Abner<74>, and they brought<7725> him back<7725> from the well<953> of Sirah<5626>; but David<1732> did not know<3045> it.
27So when Abner<74> returned<7725> to Hebron<2275>, Joab<3097> took<5186> him aside<5186> into the middle<8432> of the gate<8179> to speak<1696> with him privately<7987>, and there<8033> he struck<5221> him in the belly<2570> so that he died<4191> on account of the blood<1818> of Asahel<6214> his brother<251>.
28Afterward<310> when David<1732> heard<8085> it, he said<559>, "I and my kingdom<4467> are innocent<5355> before<4480><5973> the LORD<3068> forever<5704><5769> of the blood<1818> of Abner<74> the son<1121> of Ner<5369>.
29"May it fall<2342> on the head<7218> of Joab<3097> and on all<3605> his father's<1> house<1004>; and may there not fail<3772> from the house<1004> of Joab<3097> one who has a discharge<2100>, or who is a leper<6879>, or who takes<2388> hold<2388> of a distaff<6418>, or who falls<5307> by the sword<2719>, or who lacks<2638> bread<3899>."
30So Joab<3097> and Abishai<52> his brother<251> killed<2026> Abner<74> because<5921><834> he had put<4191> their brother<251> Asahel<6214> to death<4191> in the battle<4421> at Gibeon<1391>.
31Then David<1732> said<559> to Joab<3097> and to all<3605> the people<5971> who<834> were with him, "Tear<7167> your clothes<899> and gird<2296> on sackcloth<8242> and lament<5594> before<6440> Abner<74>." And King<4428> David<1732> walked<1980> behind<310> the bier<4296>.
32Thus they buried<6912> Abner<74> in Hebron<2275>; and the king<4428> lifted<5375> up his voice<6963> and wept<1058> at the grave<6913> of Abner<74>, and all<3605> the people<5971> wept<1058>.
33The king<4428> chanted<6969> a lament for Abner<74> and said<559>, "Should Abner<74> die<4191> as a fool<5036> dies<4194>?
34"Your hands<3027> were not bound<631>, nor<3808> your feet<7272> put<5066> in fetters<5178>; As one falls<5307> before<6440> the wicked<5767><1121>, you have fallen<5307>." And all<3605> the people<5971> wept<1058> again<3254> over<5921> him.
35Then all<3605> the people<5971> came<935> to persuade David<1732> to eat<1262> bread<3899> while it was still<5750> day<3117>; but David<1732> vowed<7650>, saying<559>, "May God<430> do<6213> so<3541> to me, and more<3254> also<3541>, if<3588><518> I taste<2938> bread<3899> or<176> anything<3972> else<3605> before<6440> the sun<8121> goes<935> down."
36Now all<3605> the people<5971> took<5234> note<5234> of it, and it pleased<3190><5869> them, just as everything<3605><834> the king<4428> did<6213> pleased<2895><5869> all<3605> the people<5971>.
37So all<3605> the people<5971> and all<3605> Israel<3478> understood<3045> that day<3117> that it had not been<1961> the will of the king<4428> to put<4191> Abner<74> the son<1121> of Ner<5369> to death<4191>.
38Then the king<4428> said<559> to his servants<5650>, "Do you not know<3045> that a prince<8269> and a great<1419> man<1419> has fallen<5307> this<2088> day<3117> in Israel<3478>?
39"I am weak<7390> today<3117>, though anointed<4886> king<4428>; and these<428> men<376> the sons<1121> of Zeruiah<6870> are too<4480> difficult<7186> for me. May the LORD<3068> repay<7999> the evildoer<6213><7463> according to his evil<7463>."