2 Samuel 3

1verseNow there was long war between Saul’s house and David’s house. David grew stronger and stronger, but Saul’s house grew weaker and weaker.

2verseSons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

3verseand his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

4verseand the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5verseand the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6verseWhile there was war between Saul’s house and David’s house, Abner made himself strong in Saul’s house.

7verseNow Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”

8verseThen Abner was very angry about Ishbosheth’s words, and said, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to your father Saul’s house, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman!

9verseGod do so to Abner, and more also, if, as the LORD has sworn to David, I don’t do even so to him:

10verseto transfer the kingdom from Saul’s house, and to set up David’s throne over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.”

11verseHe could not answer Abner another word, because he was afraid of him.

12verseAbner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “Whose is the land?” and saying, “Make your alliance with me, and behold, my hand will be with you to bring all Israel around to you.”

13verseDavid said, “Good. I will make a treaty with you, but one thing I require of you. That is, you will not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”

14verseDavid sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I was given to marry for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”

15verseIshbosheth sent and took her from her husband, Paltiel the son of Laish.

16verseHer husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go! Return!” and he returned.

17verseAbner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past, you sought for David to be king over you.

18verseNow then do it! For the LORD has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David, I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.’”

19verseAbner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin; and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.

20verseSo Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast.

21verseAbner 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 soul desires.” David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

22verseBehold, David’s servants and Joab came from a raid and brought in a great plunder with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

23verseWhen Joab and all the army who was with him had come, they told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace.”

24verseThen Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, and he is already gone?

25verseYou know Abner the son of Ner. He came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do.”

26verseWhen Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David didn’t know it.

27verseWhen Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the body, so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother.

28verseAfterward, when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.

29verseLet it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”

30verseSo Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

31verseDavid said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn in front of Abner.” King David followed the bier.

32verseThey buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at Abner’s grave; and all the people wept.

33verseThe king lamented for Abner, and said, “Should Abner die as a fool dies?

34verseYour hands weren’t bound, and your feet weren’t put into fetters. As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so you fell.” All the people wept again over him.

35verseAll the people came to urge 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, until the sun goes down.”

36verseAll the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as whatever the king did pleased all the people.

37verseSo all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner.

38verseThe king said to his servants, “Don’t you know that a prince and a great man has fallen today in Israel?

39verseI am weak today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May the LORD reward the evildoer according to his wickedness.”