Now there was long⁷⁵² war⁴⁴²¹ between the house¹⁰⁰⁴ of Saul⁷⁵⁸⁶ and the house¹⁰⁰⁴ of David:¹⁷³² but David¹⁷³² waxed stronger¹⁹⁸⁰ and stronger,²³⁹⁰ and the house¹⁰⁰⁴ of Saul⁷⁵⁸⁶ waxed weaker¹⁹⁸⁰ and weaker.¹⁸⁰⁰

And unto David¹⁷³² were sons¹¹²¹ born³²⁰⁵ in Hebron:²²⁷⁵ and his firstborn¹⁰⁶⁰ was Amnon,⁵⁵⁰ of Ahinoam²⁹³ the Jezreelitess;³¹⁵⁹

And his second,⁴⁹³² Chileab,³⁶⁰⁹ of Abigail²⁶ the wife⁸⁰² of Nabal⁵⁰³⁷ the Carmelite;³⁷⁶¹ and the third,⁷⁹⁹² Absalom⁵³ the son¹¹²¹ of Maacah⁴⁶⁰¹ the daughter¹³²³ of Talmai⁸⁵²⁶ king⁴⁴²⁸ of Geshur;¹⁶⁵⁰

And the fourth,⁷²⁴³ Adonijah¹³⁸ the son¹¹²¹ of Haggith;²²⁹⁴ and the fifth,²⁵⁴⁹ Shephatiah⁸²⁰³ the son¹¹²¹ of Abital;³⁷

And the sixth,⁸³⁴⁵ Ithream,³⁵⁰⁷ by Eglah⁵⁶⁹⁸ David's¹⁷³² wife.⁸⁰² These were born³²⁰⁵ to David¹⁷³² in Hebron.²²⁷⁵

And it came to pass, while there was war⁴⁴²¹ between the house¹⁰⁰⁴ of Saul⁷⁵⁸⁶ and the house¹⁰⁰⁴ of David,¹⁷³² that Abner⁷⁴ made himself strong²³⁸⁸ for the house¹⁰⁰⁴ of Saul.⁷⁵⁸⁶

And Saul⁷⁵⁸⁶ had a concubine,⁶³⁷⁰ whose name⁸⁰³⁴ was Rizpah,⁷⁵³² the daughter¹³²³ of Aiah:³⁴⁵ and Ishbosheth said⁵⁵⁹ to Abner,⁷⁴ Wherefore hast thou gone in⁹³⁵ unto my father's¹ concubine?⁶³⁷⁰

Then was Abner⁷⁴ very³⁹⁶⁶ wroth²⁷³⁴ for the words¹⁶⁹⁷ of Ishbosheth,³⁷⁸ and said,⁵⁵⁹ Am I a dog's³⁶¹¹ head,⁷²¹⁸ which against Judah³⁰⁶³ do shew⁶²¹³ kindness²⁶¹⁷ this day³¹¹⁷ unto the house¹⁰⁰⁴ of Saul⁷⁵⁸⁶ thy father,¹ to his brethren,²⁵¹ and to his friends,⁴⁸²⁸ and have not delivered⁴⁶⁷² thee into the hand³⁰²⁷ of David,¹⁷³² that thou chargest⁶⁴⁸⁵ me to day³¹¹⁷ with a fault⁵⁷⁷¹ concerning this woman?⁸⁰²

So do⁶²¹³ Elohim⁴³⁰ to Abner,⁷⁴ and more³²⁵⁴ also, except, as Yahweh³⁰⁶⁸ hath sworn⁷⁶⁵⁰ to David,¹⁷³² even so I do⁶²¹³ to him;

To translate⁵⁶⁷⁴ the kingdom⁴⁴⁶⁷ from the house¹⁰⁰⁴ of Saul,⁷⁵⁸⁶ and to set up⁶⁹⁶⁵ the throne³⁶⁷⁸ of David¹⁷³² over Israel³⁴⁷⁸ and over Judah,³⁰⁶³ from Dan¹⁸³⁵ even to Beersheba.⁸⁸⁴

And he could³²⁰¹ not answer⁷⁷²⁵ Abner⁷⁴ a word¹⁶⁹⁷ again, because he feared³³⁷² him.

And Abner⁷⁴ sent⁷⁹⁷¹ messengers⁴³⁹⁷ to David¹⁷³² on his behalf, saying,⁵⁵⁹ Whose is the land?⁷⁷⁶ saying⁵⁵⁹ also, Make³⁷⁷² thy league¹²⁸⁵ with me, and, behold, my hand³⁰²⁷ shall be with thee, to bring about⁵⁴³⁷ all Israel³⁴⁷⁸ unto thee.

And he said,⁵⁵⁹ Well;²⁸⁹⁶ I will make³⁷⁷² a league¹²⁸⁵ with thee: but one²⁵⁹ thing¹⁶⁹⁷ I require⁷⁵⁹² of thee, that is,⁵⁵⁹ Thou shalt not see⁷²⁰⁰ my face,⁶⁴⁴⁰ except thou first⁶⁴⁴⁰ bring⁹³⁵ Michal⁴³²⁴ Saul's⁷⁵⁸⁶ daughter,¹³²³ when thou comest⁹³⁵ to see⁷²⁰⁰ my face.⁶⁴⁴⁰

And David¹⁷³² sent⁷⁹⁷¹ messengers⁴³⁹⁷ to Ishbosheth³⁷⁸ Saul's⁷⁵⁸⁶ son,¹¹²¹ saying,⁵⁵⁹ Deliver⁵⁴¹⁴ me my wife⁸⁰² Michal,⁴³²⁴ which I espoused⁷⁸¹ to me for an hundred³⁹⁶⁷ foreskins⁶¹⁹⁰ of the Philistines.⁶⁴³⁰

And Ishbosheth³⁷⁸ sent,⁷⁹⁷¹ and took³⁹⁴⁷ her from her husband,³⁷⁶ even from Phaltiel⁶⁴⁰⁹ the son¹¹²¹ of Laish.³⁸⁸⁹

And her husband³⁷⁶ went³²¹² with her along¹⁹⁸⁰ weeping¹⁰⁵⁸ behind³¹⁰ her to Bahurim.⁹⁸⁰ Then said⁵⁵⁹ Abner⁷⁴ unto him, Go,³²¹² return.⁷⁷²⁵ And he returned.⁷⁷²⁵

And Abner⁷⁴ had¹⁹⁶¹ communication¹⁶⁹⁷ with the elders²²⁰⁵ of Israel,³⁴⁷⁸ saying,⁵⁵⁹ Ye sought¹²⁴⁵ for David¹⁷³² in times past⁸⁵⁴³ to be king⁴⁴²⁸ over you:

Now then do⁶²¹³ it: for Yahweh³⁰⁶⁸ hath spoken⁵⁵⁹ of David,¹⁷³² saying,⁵⁵⁹ By the hand³⁰²⁷ of my servant⁵⁶⁵⁰ David¹⁷³² I will save³⁴⁶⁷ my people⁵⁹⁷¹ Israel³⁴⁷⁸ out of the hand³⁰²⁷ of the Philistines,⁶⁴³⁰ and out of the hand³⁰²⁷ of all their enemies.³⁴¹

And Abner⁷⁴ also spake¹⁶⁹⁶ in the ears²⁴¹ of Benjamin:¹¹⁴⁴ and Abner⁷⁴ went³²¹² also to speak¹⁶⁹⁶ in the ears²⁴¹ of David¹⁷³² in Hebron²²⁷⁵ all that seemed⁵⁸⁶⁹ good²⁸⁹⁶ to Israel,³⁴⁷⁸ and that seemed⁵⁸⁶⁹ good to the whole house¹⁰⁰⁴ of Benjamin.¹¹⁴⁴

So Abner⁷⁴ came⁹³⁵ to David¹⁷³² to Hebron,²²⁷⁵ and twenty⁶²⁴² men⁵⁸² with him. And David¹⁷³² made⁶²¹³ Abner⁷⁴ and the men⁵⁸² that were with him a feast.⁴⁹⁶⁰

And Abner⁷⁴ said⁵⁵⁹ unto David,¹⁷³² I will arise⁶⁹⁶⁵ and go,³²¹² and will gather⁶⁹⁰⁸ all Israel³⁴⁷⁸ unto my sovereign¹¹³ the king,⁴⁴²⁸ that they may make³⁷⁷² a league¹²⁸⁵ with thee, and that thou mayest reign⁴⁴²⁷ over all that thine heart⁵³¹⁵ desireth.¹⁸³ And David¹⁷³² sent Abner⁷⁴ away;⁷⁹⁷¹ and he went³²¹² in peace.⁷⁹⁶⁵

And, behold, the servants⁵⁶⁵⁰ of David¹⁷³² and Joab³⁰⁹⁷ came⁹³⁵ from pursuing a troop,¹⁴¹⁶ and brought in⁹³⁵ a great⁷²²⁷ spoil⁷⁹⁹⁸ with them: but Abner⁷⁴ was not with David¹⁷³² in Hebron;²²⁷⁵ for he had sent him away,⁷⁹⁷¹ and he was gone³²¹² in peace.⁷⁹⁶⁵

When Joab³⁰⁹⁷ and all the host⁶⁶³⁵ that was with him were come,⁹³⁵ they told⁵⁰⁴⁶ Joab,³⁰⁹⁷ saying,⁵⁵⁹ Abner⁷⁴ the son¹¹²¹ of Ner⁵³⁶⁹ came⁹³⁵ to the king,⁴⁴²⁸ and he hath sent him away,⁷⁹⁷¹ and he is gone³²¹² in peace.⁷⁹⁶⁵

Then Joab³⁰⁹⁷ came⁹³⁵ to the king,⁴⁴²⁸ and said,⁵⁵⁹ What hast thou done?⁶²¹³ behold, Abner⁷⁴ came⁹³⁵ unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away,⁷⁹⁷¹ and he is quite¹⁹⁸⁰ gone?³²¹²

Thou knowest³⁰⁴⁵ Abner⁷⁴ the son¹¹²¹ of Ner,⁵³⁶⁹ that he came⁹³⁵ to deceive⁶⁶⁰¹ thee, and to know³⁰⁴⁵ thy going out⁴¹⁶¹ and thy coming in,⁴¹²⁶ and to know³⁰⁴⁵ all that thou doest.⁶²¹³

And when Joab³⁰⁹⁷ was come out³³¹⁸ from David,¹⁷³² he sent⁷⁹⁷¹ messengers⁴³⁹⁷ after³¹⁰ Abner,⁷⁴ which brought him again⁷⁷²⁵ from the well⁹⁵³ of Sirah:⁵⁶²⁶ but David¹⁷³² knew³⁰⁴⁵ it not.

And when Abner⁷⁴ was returned⁷⁷²⁵ to Hebron,²²⁷⁵ Joab³⁰⁹⁷ took him aside⁵¹⁸⁶ in⁴¹³ the gate⁸¹⁷⁹ to speak¹⁶⁹⁶ with him quietly,⁷⁹⁸⁷ and smote⁵²²¹ him there under the fifth²⁵⁷⁰ rib, that he died,⁴¹⁹¹ for the blood¹⁸¹⁸ of Asahel⁶²¹⁴ his brother.²⁵¹

And afterward³¹⁰ when David¹⁷³² heard⁸⁰⁸⁵ it, he said,⁵⁵⁹ I and my kingdom⁴⁴⁶⁷ are guiltless⁵³⁵⁵ before Yahweh³⁰⁶⁸ for⁵⁷⁰⁴ ever⁵⁷⁶⁹ from the blood¹⁸¹⁸ of Abner⁷⁴ the son¹¹²¹ of Ner:⁵³⁶⁹

Let it rest²³⁴² on the head⁷²¹⁸ of Joab,³⁰⁹⁷ and on all his father's¹ house;¹⁰⁰⁴ and let there not fail³⁷⁷² from the house¹⁰⁰⁴ of Joab³⁰⁹⁷ one that hath an issue,²¹⁰⁰ or that is a leper,⁶⁸⁷⁹ or that leaneth²³⁸⁸ on a staff,⁶⁴¹⁸ or that falleth⁵³⁰⁷ on the sword,²⁷¹⁹ or that lacketh²⁶³⁸ bread.³⁸⁹⁹

So Joab³⁰⁹⁷ and Abishai⁵² his brother²⁵¹ slew²⁰²⁶ Abner,⁷⁴ because he had slain⁴¹⁹¹ their brother²⁵¹ Asahel⁶²¹⁴ at Gibeon¹³⁹¹ in the battle.⁴⁴²¹

And David¹⁷³² said⁵⁵⁹ to Joab,³⁰⁹⁷ and to all the people⁵⁹⁷¹ that were with him, Rend⁷¹⁶⁷ your clothes,⁸⁹⁹ and gird²²⁹⁶ you with sackcloth,⁸²⁴² and mourn⁵⁵⁹⁴ before⁶⁴⁴⁰ Abner.⁷⁴ And king⁴⁴²⁸ David¹⁷³² himself followed¹⁹⁸⁰ the bier.⁴²⁹⁶

And they buried⁶⁹¹² Abner⁷⁴ in Hebron:²²⁷⁵ and the king⁴⁴²⁸ lifted up⁵³⁷⁵ his voice,⁶⁹⁶³ and wept¹⁰⁵⁸ at the grave⁶⁹¹³ of Abner;⁷⁴ and all the people⁵⁹⁷¹ wept.¹⁰⁵⁸

And the king⁴⁴²⁸ lamented⁶⁹⁶⁹ over Abner,⁷⁴ and said,⁵⁵⁹ Died⁴¹⁹¹ Abner⁷⁴ as a fool⁵⁰³⁶ dieth?⁴¹⁹⁴

Thy hands³⁰²⁷ were not bound,⁶³¹ nor thy feet⁷²⁷² put⁵⁰⁶⁶ into fetters:⁵¹⁷⁸ as a man falleth⁵³⁰⁷ before⁶⁴⁴⁰ wicked⁵⁷⁶⁶ men,¹¹²¹ so fellest⁵³⁰⁷ thou. And all the people⁵⁹⁷¹ wept¹⁰⁵⁸ again³²⁵⁴ over him.

And when all³⁶⁰⁵ the people⁵⁹⁷¹ came⁹³⁵ to cause David¹⁷³² to eat¹²⁶² meat³⁸⁹⁹ while it was yet⁵⁷⁵⁰ day,³¹¹⁷ David¹⁷³² sware,⁷⁶⁵⁰ saying,⁵⁵⁹ So do⁶²¹³ Elohim⁴³⁰ to me, and more³²⁵⁴ also, if I taste²⁹³⁸ bread,³⁸⁹⁹ or ought³⁹⁷² else,³⁶⁰⁵ till⁶⁴⁴⁰ the sun⁸¹²¹ be down.⁹³⁵

And all³⁶⁰⁵ the people⁵⁹⁷¹ took notice⁵²³⁴ of it, and it pleased³¹⁹⁰ them: as whatsoever the king⁴⁴²⁸ did⁶²¹³ pleased⁵⁸⁶⁹ all³⁶⁰⁵ the people.⁵⁹⁷¹

For all³⁶⁰⁵ the people⁵⁹⁷¹ and all³⁶⁰⁵ Israel³⁴⁷⁸ understood³⁰⁴⁵ that day³¹¹⁷ that it was not of the king⁴⁴²⁸ to slay⁴¹⁹¹ Abner⁷⁴ the son¹¹²¹ of Ner.⁵³⁶⁹

And the king⁴⁴²⁸ said⁵⁵⁹ unto his servants,⁵⁶⁵⁰ Know³⁰⁴⁵ ye not that there is a prince⁸²⁶⁹ and a great man¹⁴¹⁹ fallen⁵³⁰⁷ this day³¹¹⁷ in Israel?³⁴⁷⁸

And I am this day³¹¹⁷ weak,⁷³⁹⁰ though anointed⁴⁸⁸⁶ king;⁴⁴²⁸ and these men⁵⁸² the sons¹¹²¹ of Zeruiah⁶⁸⁷⁰ be too hard⁷¹⁸⁶ for me: Yahweh³⁰⁶⁸ shall reward⁷⁹⁹⁹ the doer⁶²¹³ of evil according to his wickedness.⁷⁴⁵¹