2 Samuel 3
1 And the war is long between the house of Saul and the house of David, and David is going on and [is] strong, and the house of Saul are going on and [are] weak.
Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David waxed stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
2 And there are born to David sons in Hebron, and his first-born is Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess,
And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
3 and his second [is] Chileab, of Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelite, and the third [is] Absalom son of Maacah 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 [is] Adonijah son of Haggith, and the fifth [is] Shephatiah son of Abital,
and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
5 and the sixth [is] Ithream, of Eglah wife of David; these have been born to David in Hebron.
and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
6 And it cometh to pass, in the war being between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner hath been strengthening himself in the house of Saul,
And it come to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul.
7 and Saul hath a concubine, and her name [is] Rizpah daughter of Aiah, and [Ish-Bosheth] saith unto Abner, 'Wherefore hast thou gone in unto the concubine of my father?'
Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and [Ish-bosheth] said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father’s concubine?
8 And it is displeasing to Abner exceedingly, because of the words of Ish-Bosheth, and he saith, 'The head of a dog [am] I — that in reference to Judah to-day I do kindness with the house of Saul thy father, unto his brethren, and unto his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David — that thou chargest against me iniquity concerning the woman to-day?
Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog’s head that belongeth to Judah? This day do I shew kindness unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, and yet thou chargest me this day with a fault concerning this woman.
9 thus doth God to Abner, and thus He doth add to him, surely as Jehovah hath sworn to David — surely so I do to him:
God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as the LORD hath sworn to David, I do not even so to him;
10 to cause the kingdom to pass over from the house of Saul, and to raise up the throne of David over Israel, and over Judah, from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba.'
to translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba.
11 And he is not able any more to turn back Abner a word, because of his fearing him.
And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.
12 And Abner sendeth messengers unto David for himself, saying, 'Whose [is] the land?' saying, 'Make thy covenant with me, and lo, my hand [is] with thee, to bring round unto thee all Israel.'
And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying [also], Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
13 And he saith, 'Good — I make with thee a covenant; only, one thing I am asking of thee, that is, Thou dost not see my face, except thou dost first bring in Michal, daughter of Saul in thy coming into see my face.'
And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face.
14 And David sendeth messengers unto Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, saying, 'Give up my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself with a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.'
And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
15 And Ish-Bosheth sendeth, and taketh her from a man, from Phaltiel son of Laish,
And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish.
16 and her husband goeth with her, going on and weeping behind her, unto Bahurim, and Abner saith unto him, 'Go, turn back;' and he turneth back.
And her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return: and he returned.
17 And the word of Abner was with the elders of Israel, saying, 'Heretofore ye have been seeking David for king over you,
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, In times past ye sought for David to be king over you:
18 and now, do [it], for Jehovah hath spoken of David saying, By the hand of David my servant — to 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 hath 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 speaketh also in the ears of Benjamin, and Abner goeth also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that [is] good in the eyes of Israel, and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin,
And Abner also spake 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 and Abner cometh in unto David, to Hebron, and with him twenty men, and David maketh for Abner, and for the men who [are] with him, a banquet.
So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.
21 And Abner saith unto David, 'I arise, and go, and gather unto my lord the king the whole of Israel, and they make with thee a covenant, and thou hast reigned over all that thy soul desireth;' and David sendeth away Abner, and he goeth in peace.
And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thy soul desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
22 And lo, the servants of David, and Joab, have come from the troop, and much spoil have brought with them, and Abner is not with David in Hebron, for he hath sent him away, and he goeth in peace;
And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a foray, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
23 and Joab and all the host that [is] with him have come, and they declare to Joab, saying, 'Abner son of Ner hath come unto the king, and he sendeth him away, and he goeth in peace.'
When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
24 And Joab cometh unto the king, and saith, 'What hast thou done? lo, Abner hath come unto thee! why [is] this — thou hast sent him away, and he is really gone?
Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
25 Thou hast known Abner son of Ner, that to deceive thee he came, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou art doing.'
Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.
26 And Joab goeth out from David, and sendeth messengers after Abner, and they bring him back from the well of Sirah, and David knew not.
And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
27 And Abner turneth back to Hebron, and Joab turneth him aside unto the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and smiteth him there in the fifth [rib] — and he dieth — for the blood of Asahel his brother.
And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there in the belly, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28 And David heareth afterwards and saith, 'Acquitted [am] I, and my kingdom, by Jehovah, unto the age, from the blood of Abner son of Ner;
And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
29 it doth stay on the head of Joab, and on all the house of his father, and there is not cut off from the house of Joab one having an issue, and leprous, and laying hold on a staff, and falling by a sword, and lacking bread.'
let it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth by the sword, or that lacketh bread.
30 And Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner because that he put to death Asahel their brother, in Gibeon, in battle.
So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
31 And David saith unto Joab, and unto all the people who [are] with him, 'Rend your garments, and gird on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner;' and king David is going after the bier.
And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David followed the bier.
32 And they bury Abner in Hebron, and the king lifteth up his voice, and weepeth at the grave of Abner, and all the people weep;
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 lamenteth for Abner, and saith: — 'As the death of a fool doth Abner die?
And the king lamented for Abner, and said, Should Abner die as a fool dieth?
34 Thy hands not bound, And thy feet to fetters not brought nigh! As one falling before sons of evil — Thou hast fallen!' and all the people add to weep over him.
Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before the children of iniquity, so didst thou fall. And all the people wept again over him.
35 And all the people come to cause David to eat bread while yet day, and David sweareth, saying, 'Thus doth God to me, and thus He doth add, for — before the going in of the sun, I taste no bread or any other thing.'
And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David sware, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or aught else, till the sun be down.
36 And all the people have discerned [it], and it is good in their eyes, as all that the king hath done is good in the eyes of all the people;
And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.
37 and all the people know, even all Israel, in that day, that it hath not been from the king — to put to death Abner son of Ner.
So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.
38 And the king saith unto his servants, 'Do ye not know that a prince and a great one hath fallen this day in Israel?
And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
39 and I to-day [am] tender, and an anointed king: and these men, sons of Zeruiah, [are] too hard for me; Jehovah doth recompense to the doer of the evil according to his evil.'
And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD reward the wicked doer according to his wickedness.
