[1] There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David;
and David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker
and weaker. [2] And sons were born to David at Hebron: his first-born was
Amnon, of Ahin'o-am of Jezreel; [3] and his second, Chil'e-ab, of Ab'igail
the widow of Nabal of Carmel; and the third, Ab'salom the son of Ma'acah
the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; [4] and the fourth, Adoni'jah the
son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephati'ah the son of Abi'tal; [5] and the
sixth, Ith're-am, of Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in
Hebron. [6] While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of
David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. [7] Now Saul
had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Ai'ah; and
Ish-bo'sheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's
concubine?" [8] Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bo'sheth,
and said, "Am I a dog's head of Judah? This day I keep showing loyalty to
the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and
have not given you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me today with
a fault concerning a woman. [9] God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do
not accomplish for David what the LORD has sworn to him, [10] to transfer
the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over
Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beer-sheba." [11] And Ish-bo'sheth could
not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. [12] And Abner sent
messengers to David at Hebron, saying, "To whom does the land belong? Make
your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over
all Israel to you." [13] And he said, "Good; I will make a covenant with
you; but one thing I require of you; that is, you shall not see my face,
unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my
face." [14] Then David sent messengers to Ish-bo'sheth Saul's son, saying,
"Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed at the price of a hundred
foreskins of the Philistines." [15] And Ish-bo'sheth sent, and took her
from her husband Pal'ti-el the son of La'ish. [16] But her husband went
with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahu'rim. Then Abner said to
him, "Go, return"; and he returned. [17] And Abner conferred with the
elders of Israel, saying, "For some time past you have been seeking David
as king over you. [18] Now then bring it about; for the LORD has promised
David, saying, `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.'" [19] Abner also spoke to Benjamin; and then Abner went to tell
David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought
good to do. [20] When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David
made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. [21] And Abner said
to David, "I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the
king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over
all that your heart desires." So David sent Abner away; and he went in
peace. [22] Just then the servants of David arrived with Jo'ab from a raid,
bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for
he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. [23] When Jo'ab and all the
army that was with him came, it was told Jo'ab, "Abner the son of Ner came
to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace." [24] Then
Jo'ab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Behold, Abner came to
you; why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone? [25] You
know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, and to know your going
out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing." [26] When
Jo'ab came out from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and
they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah; but David did not know
about it. [27] And when Abner returned to Hebron, Jo'ab took him aside into
the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he smote him
in the belly, so that he died, for the blood of As'ahel his brother. [28]
Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, "I and my kingdom are for ever
guiltless before the LORD for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. [29] May
it fall upon the head of Jo'ab, and upon all his father's house; and may
the house of Jo'ab never be without one who has a discharge, or who is
leprous, or who holds a spindle, or who is slain by the sword, or who lacks
bread!" [30] So Jo'ab and Abi'shai his brother slew Abner, because he had
killed their brother As'ahel in the battle at Gibeon. [31] Then David said
to Jo'ab and to all the people who were with him, "Rend your clothes, and
gird on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner." And King David followed the
bier. [32] They buried Abner at Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice
and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. [33] And the king
lamented for Abner, saying, "Should Abner die as a fool dies? [34] Your
hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered; as one falls before the
wicked you have fallen." And all the people wept again over him. [35] Then
all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day;
but David swore, saying, "God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread
or anything else till the sun goes down!" [36] And all the people took
notice of it, and it pleased them; as everything that the king did pleased
all the people. [37] So all the people and all Israel understood that day
that it had not been the king's will to slay Abner the son of Ner. [38] And
the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great
man has fallen this day in Israel? [39] And I am this day weak, though
anointed king; these men the sons of Zeru'iah are too hard for me. The LORD
requite the evildoer according to his wickedness!"