2 Samuel 3

1 And the war lasted a long time between the house of Saul and the house of David; but David became continually stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul became continually weaker and weaker.

And the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was prolonged, —and, David, waxed stronger and stronger, and, the house of Saul, became weaker and weaker.

2 And there were born unto David sons in Hebron: and his first-born was Amnon, of Achino'am the Yizre'elitess;

And there were born unto David, sons, in Hebron, —and it came to press that—His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam, the Jezreelitess;

3 And his second was Kilab, of Abigayil the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Abshalom, the son of Ma'achah the daughter of Talmai the king of Geshur;

And his second Chileab, by Abigail, wife of Nabal the Carmelite, And the third Absolom, son of Maachah, daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;

4 And the fourth, Adoniyah, the son of Chaggith; and the fifth, Shephatyah, the son of Abital;

And the fourth Adonijah, son of Higgith, —And the fifth Shephatiah, son of Abital;

5 And the sixth, Yithre'am, by 'Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

And the sixth Ithream, by Eglah wife of David. These, were born unto David, in Hebron.

6 And it came to pass, while the war lasted between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner upheld with all his strength the house of Saul.

And it came to pass, while the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, that, Abner, shewed himself courageous for the house of Saul.

7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Ayah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?

Now, Saul, had a concubine, whose name, was Rizpah daughter of Aiah, —and [Ish-bosheth] said unto Abner, Why, wentest thou in, unto my father’s concubine?

8 And Abner became very wroth because of the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I the chief of the dogs which belong to Judah? unto this day have I shown kindness unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David; and yet thou chargest me today with a wrong committed with this woman?

And it provoked Abner greatly, on account of the words of Ish-bosheth, and he said—Am I, the head of the dogs, that pertain unto Judah? To-day, would I deal in lovingkindness with the house of Saul thy father, towards his brethren, and towards his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, —and yet thou hast charged upon me the transgression of the woman, today.

9 May God do so to Abner, and continue to do yet more to him, that, as the Lord hath sworn to David, even so will I surely do to him;

So, may God do unto Abner, and, so, may he add to him, —if, as Yahweh hath sworn unto David, even so, I deal not with him;

10 To transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba'.

by turning over the kingdom from the house of Saul, —and establishing the throne of David, over Israel and over Judah, from Dan, even unto Beer-sheba.

11 And he could not answer Abner a word more in reply, because of his fear of him.

And he could no further answer Abner, a word, —because he feared him.

12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying [also, ] Make thy covenant with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring round unto thee all Israel.

So Abner sent messengers unto David, on the spot, saying—Whose, is the land? Saying [also] —Solemnise thy covenant with me; and lo! my hand, shall be with thee, to bring round unto thee, all Israel.

13 And he said, Well: I will indeed make a covenant with thee; but one thing I require of thee, namely, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

And he said—Good! I, will solemnise with thee a covenant, —but, one thing, must I ask of thee, saying—Thou shalt not see my face, except thou have brought in Michal, Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

14 And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, saying, Give up to me my wife Michal, whom I espoused to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

And David sent messengers unto Ish-bosheth son of Saul, saying, —Give up my wife, Michal, whom I espoused to myself, for a hundred foreskins of Philistines.

15 And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from the man, from Paltiel the son of Layish.

So Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, —from Paltiel, son of Laish.

16 And her husband went with her going along and weeping behind her as far as Bachurim: when Abner said unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

And her husband went along with her, weeping as he went behind her, as far as Behurim, —when Abner said unto him—Go, return. And he returned.

17 And Abner had used these words with the elders of Israel, saying, Already yesterday and even before ye have been desiring David as king over you:

Then had Abner, speech, with the elders of Israel, saying, —In times past, ye were seeking David, to be king over you.

18 And now do it; for the Lord hath said of David thus, By the hand of my servant David will I save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

Now, therefore, act, —for Yahweh, spake unto David, saying, By the hand of David my servant, will I save my people Israel, out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

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

And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin, —and Abner also went to speak in the ears of David, in Hebron, all that was pleasing in the eyes of Israel, and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin.

20 And Abner came to David to Hebron, and with him were twenty men; and David made for Abner and for the men that were with him a feast.

So, when Abner came in unto David, in Hebron, and, with him, twenty men, David made, for Abner, and for the men who were with him, a banquet.

21 And Abner said unto David, I will now arise and go, and I will assemble unto my Lord the king all Israel, that they may make a covenant with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thy soul longeth for. And David dismissed Abner: and he went in peace.

Then said Abner unto David—I will verily arise and go, and gather together unto my lord the king, all Israel—that they may solemnise with thee a covenant, so shalt thou reign over all that thy soul desireth. And David let Abner go, and he departed in peace.

22 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a predatory excursion, and brought in much booty with them; but Abner was no more with David in Hebron; for he had dismissed him, and he was gone in peace.

And lo! the servants of David, and Joab, came in from a raid, and, great spoil, brought they in with them; but, Abner, was not with David in Hebron, for he had let him go, and he had departed in peace.

23 When Joab and all the army that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath dismissed him, and he is gone in peace.

When, Joab, and all the host that was with him, had come in, then told they Joab, saying, Abner son of Ner hath been in unto the king, and he hath let him go, and he hath departed in peace.

24 Then came Joab to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee: why is it that thou hast dismissed him, that he went freely away?

Then Joab came in unto the king, and said—What hast thou done? Lo! Abner came in unto thee. Wherefore is it that thou didst let him go, so that he is clean departed?

25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that to deceive thee did he come, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou art doing.

Thou knowest Abner son of Ner, that, to deceive thee, he came, —and to take knowledge of thy going out, and thy coming in, and to take knowledge of all that thou art doing.

26 And Joab went out from David, and he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David knew it not.

And, when Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and brought him back from the well of Sirah, —but, David, knew it not.

27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him in private; and he smote him there under the fifth rib, and he died, for the blood of 'Asahel his brother.

So Abner returned to Hebron, and Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate, to speak with him quietly, —and then smote him there, in the belly, that he died, for the blood of Asahel the brother of Joab.

28 And when David heard it afterward, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for ever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

And, when David heard of it, after that, he said—Guiltless, am I and my kingdom before Yahweh, unto times age-abiding, —of the blood of Abner son of Ner.

29 May it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and may there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a crutch, or that falleth by the sword, or that lacketh bread.

Let it be hurled upon the head of Joab, and against all his father’s house, —and let there not fail from the house of Joab—one that hath an issue, or a leper, or one that leaneth on a crutch, or that falleth by the sword, or that lacketh bread.

30 But Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother 'Asahel at Gib'on in the battle.

Thus, Joab and Abishai his brother, slew Abner, —because he had caused the death of Asahel their brother, in Gibeon, in the battle.

31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and [go] mourning before Abner. And king David walked behind the bier.

And David said unto Joab, and unto all the people who were with him, —Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and lament aloud before Abner. And, King David himself, was following the bier.

32 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

And they buried Abner in 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 over Abner, and said, O, that Abner had to die, as the worthless dieth!

And the king addressed his dirge unto Abner, and said, —As a base man dieth, should Abner have died?

34 Thy hands were not bound, and thy feet were not put into fetters: as one falleth before men of wickedness art thou fallen. And all the people wept again over him.

Thy hands, were not bound, And, thy feet, near to fetters, were not brought, As one falleth before assassins, so didst thou fall! And again all the people wept over him.

35 And all the people came to cause David to eat food while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, So do God to me, and thus may he continue, if before the sun be down I taste bread, or the least else.

And, when all the people came near to get David to eat bread, while yet it was day, David sware, saying—So, let God do to me, and, so, let him add, if, before the sun go in, I taste bread, or anything else.

36 And all the people took notice of it, and it was pleasing in their eyes: as whatsoever the king did was pleasing in the eyes of all the people.

And, all the people, took note of it, and it was noble in their eyes, —as, all that the king did, was, in the eyes of all the people, noble.

37 And all the people and all Israel understood on that day that it had not been of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

So then all the people, and all Israel, took note, that day, that it was not of the king, to cause the death of Abner son of Ner.

38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that a prince and a great man hath fallen this day in Israel?

And the king said unto his servants, —Will ye not take note that, a prince and a great man, hath fallen this day, in Israel?

39 And I am this day yet weak, and just anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruyah, are too strong for me: may the Lord pay the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

And, I myself, this day, am weak, though anointed king, but, these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I: Yahweh repay, the doer of wickedness, according to his wickedness.