2 Samuel 3

1 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.

Now 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.

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

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

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

and 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;

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

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

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

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

6 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.

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

7 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?

Now 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?”

8 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.

Then 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!

9 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;

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

10 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.

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

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

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

12 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.

Abner 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.”

13 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.

David 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.”

14 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.

David 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.”

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

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

16 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.

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

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

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

18 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.

Now 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.’”

19 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.

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 to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.

20 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.

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

21 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.

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

22 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.

Behold, 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.

23 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.

When 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.”

24 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?

Then 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?

25 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.

You 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.”

26 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.

When 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.

27 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.

When 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.

28 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.

Afterward, 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.

29 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.

Let 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.”

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

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

31 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.

David 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.

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.

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

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

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

34 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.

Your 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.

35 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.

All 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.”

36 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.

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

37 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.

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

38 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?

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

39 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.

I 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.”