Βασιλειῶν Βʹ 3

1 καὶ ἐγένετο ὁ πόλεμος ἐπὶ πολὺ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ οἴκου Σαουλ καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ οἴκου Δαυιδ καὶ ὁ οἶκος Δαυιδ ἐπορεύετο καὶ ἐκραταιοῦτο καὶ ὁ οἶκος Σαουλ ἐπορεύετο καὶ ἠσθένει

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 καὶ ἐτέχθησαν τῷ Δαυιδ υἱοὶ ἐν Χεβρων καὶ ἦν ὁ πρωτότοκος αὐτοῦ Αμνων τῆς Αχινοομ τῆς Ιεζραηλίτιδος

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

3 καὶ ὁ δεύτερος αὐτοῦ Δαλουια τῆς Αβιγαιας τῆς Καρμηλίας καὶ ὁ τρίτος Αβεσσαλωμ υἱὸς Μααχα θυγατρὸς Θολμι βασιλέως Γεσιρ

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 καὶ ὁ τέταρτος Ορνια υἱὸς Φεγγιθ καὶ ὁ πέμπτος Σαβατια τῆς Αβιταλ

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

5 καὶ ὁ ἕκτος Ιεθερααμ τῆς Αιγλα γυναικὸς Δαυιδ οὗτοι ἐτέχθησαν τῷ Δαυιδ ἐν Χεβρων

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

6 καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ εἶναι τὸν πόλεμον ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ οἴκου Σαουλ καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ οἴκου Δαυιδ καὶ Αβεννηρ ἦν κρατῶν τοῦ οἶκου Σαουλ

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

7 καὶ τῷ Σαουλ παλλακὴ Ρεσφα θυγάτηρ Ιαλ καὶ εἶπεν Μεμφιβοσθε υἱὸς Σαουλ πρὸς Αβεννηρ τί ὅτι εἰσῆλθες πρὸς τὴν παλλακὴν τοῦ πατρός μου

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 καὶ ἐθυμώθη σφόδρα Αβεννηρ περὶ τοῦ λόγου Μεμφιβοσθε καὶ εἶπεν Αβεννηρ πρὸς αὐτόν μὴ κεφαλὴ κυνὸς ἐγώ εἰμι ἐποίησα ἔλεος σήμερον μετὰ τοῦ οἴκου Σαουλ τοῦ πατρός σου καὶ περὶ ἀδελφῶν καὶ γνωρίμων καὶ οὐκ ηὐτομόλησα εἰς τὸν οἶκον Δαυιδ καὶ ἐπιζητεῖς ἐπ’ ἐμὲ ὑπὲρ ἀδικίας γυναικὸς σήμερον

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 τάδε ποιήσαι ὁ θεὸς τῷ Αβεννηρ καὶ τάδε προσθείη αὐτῷ ὅτι καθὼς ὤμοσεν κύριος τῷ Δαυιδ ὅτι οὕτως ποιήσω αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ

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 περιελεῖν τὴν βασιλείαν ἀπὸ τοῦ οἴκου Σαουλ καὶ τοῦ ἀναστῆσαι τὸν θρόνον Δαυιδ ἐπὶ Ισραηλ καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ιουδαν ἀπὸ Δαν ἕως Βηρσαβεε

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 καὶ οὐκ ἠδυνάσθη ἔτι Μεμφιβοσθε ἀποκριθῆναι τῷ Αβεννηρ ῥῆμα ἀπὸ τοῦ φοβεῖσθαι αὐτόν

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

12 καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Αβεννηρ ἀγγέλους πρὸς Δαυιδ εἰς Θαιλαμ οὗ ἦν παραχρῆμα λέγων διάθου διαθήκην σου μετ’ ἐμοῦ καὶ ἰδοὺ ἡ χείρ μου μετὰ σοῦ τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι πρὸς σὲ πάντα τὸν οἶκον Ισραηλ

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 καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ ἐγὼ καλῶς διαθήσομαι πρὸς σὲ διαθήκην πλὴν λόγον ἕνα ἐγὼ αἰτοῦμαι παρὰ σοῦ λέγων οὐκ ὄψει τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἐὰν μὴ ἀγάγῃς τὴν Μελχολ θυγατέρα Σαουλ παραγινομένου σου ἰδεῖν τὸ πρόσωπόν μου

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 καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Μεμφιβοσθε υἱὸν Σαουλ ἀγγέλους λέγων ἀπόδος μοι τὴν γυναῖκά μου τὴν Μελχολ ἣν ἔλαβον ἐν ἑκατὸν ἀκροβυστίαις ἀλλοφύλων

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 καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Μεμφιβοσθε καὶ ἔλαβεν αὐτὴν παρὰ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς παρὰ Φαλτιηλ υἱοῦ Σελλης

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

16 καὶ ἐπορεύετο ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς μετ’ αὐτῆς κλαίων ὀπίσω αὐτῆς ἕως Βαρακιμ καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν Αβεννηρ πορεύου ἀνάστρεφε καὶ ἀνέστρεψεν

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 καὶ εἶπεν Αβεννηρ πρὸς τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους Ισραηλ λέγων ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτην ἐζητεῖτε τὸν Δαυιδ βασιλεύειν ἐφ’ ὑμῶν

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

18 καὶ νῦν ποιήσατε ὅτι κύριος ἐλάλησεν περὶ Δαυιδ λέγων ἐν χειρὶ τοῦ δούλου μου Δαυιδ σώσω τὸν Ισραηλ ἐκ χειρὸς ἀλλοφύλων καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς πάντων τῶν ἐχθρῶν αὐτῶν

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 καὶ ἐλάλησεν Αβεννηρ ἐν τοῖς ὠσὶν Βενιαμιν καὶ ἐπορεύθη Αβεννηρ τοῦ λαλῆσαι εἰς τὰ ὦτα τοῦ Δαυιδ εἰς Χεβρων πάντα ὅσα ἤρεσεν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Ισραηλ καὶ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς παντὸς οἴκου Βενιαμιν

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 καὶ ἦλθεν Αβεννηρ πρὸς Δαυιδ εἰς Χεβρων καὶ μετ’ αὐτοῦ εἴκοσι ἄνδρες καὶ ἐποίησεν Δαυιδ τῷ Αβεννηρ καὶ τοῖς ἀνδράσιν τοῖς μετ’ αὐτοῦ πότον

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 καὶ εἶπεν Αβεννηρ πρὸς Δαυιδ ἀναστήσομαι δὴ καὶ πορεύσομαι καὶ συναθροίσω πρὸς κύριόν μου τὸν βασιλέα πάντα Ισραηλ καὶ διαθήσομαι μετὰ σοῦ διαθήκην καὶ βασιλεύσεις ἐπὶ πᾶσιν οἷς ἐπιθυμεῖ ἡ ψυχή σου καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Δαυιδ τὸν Αβεννηρ καὶ ἐπορεύθη ἐν εἰρήνῃ

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 καὶ ἰδοὺ οἱ παῖδες Δαυιδ καὶ Ιωαβ παρεγίνοντο ἐκ τῆς ἐξοδίας καὶ σκῦλα πολλὰ ἔφερον μετ’ αὐτῶν καὶ Αβεννηρ οὐκ ἦν μετὰ Δαυιδ εἰς Χεβρων ὅτι ἀπεστάλκει αὐτὸν καὶ ἀπεληλύθει ἐν εἰρήνῃ

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 καὶ Ιωαβ καὶ πᾶσα ἡ στρατιὰ αὐτοῦ ἤχθησαν καὶ ἀπηγγέλη τῷ Ιωαβ λέγοντες ἥκει Αβεννηρ υἱὸς Νηρ πρὸς Δαυιδ καὶ ἀπέσταλκεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ἐν εἰρήνῃ

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 καὶ εἰσῆλθεν Ιωαβ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα καὶ εἶπεν τί τοῦτο ἐποίησας ἰδοὺ ἦλθεν Αβεννηρ πρὸς σέ καὶ ἵνα τί ἐξαπέσταλκας αὐτὸν καὶ ἀπελήλυθεν ἐν εἰρήνῃ

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 ἦ οὐκ οἶδας τὴν κακίαν Αβεννηρ υἱοῦ Νηρ ὅτι ἀπατῆσαί σε παρεγένετο καὶ γνῶναι τὴν ἔξοδόν σου καὶ τὴν εἴσοδόν σου καὶ γνῶναι ἅπαντα ὅσα σὺ ποιεῖς

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 καὶ ἀνέστρεψεν Ιωαβ ἀπὸ τοῦ Δαυιδ καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἀγγέλους ὀπίσω Αβεννηρ καὶ ἐπιστρέφουσιν αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ φρέατος τοῦ Σεϊραμ καὶ Δαυιδ οὐκ ᾔδει

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 καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Αβεννηρ εἰς Χεβρων καὶ ἐξέκλινεν αὐτὸν Ιωαβ ἐκ πλαγίων τῆς πύλης λαλῆσαι πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐνεδρεύων καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτὸν ἐκεῖ ἐπὶ τὴν ψόαν καὶ ἀπέθανεν ἐν τῷ αἵματι Ασαηλ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ Ιωαβ

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 καὶ ἤκουσεν Δαυιδ μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ εἶπεν ἀθῷός εἰμι ἐγὼ καὶ ἡ βασιλεία μου ἀπὸ κυρίου ἕως αἰῶνος ἀπὸ τῶν αἱμάτων Αβεννηρ υἱοῦ Νηρ

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 καταντησάτωσαν ἐπὶ κεφαλὴν Ιωαβ καὶ ἐπὶ πάντα τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ μὴ ἐκλίποι ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου Ιωαβ γονορρυὴς καὶ λεπρὸς καὶ κρατῶν σκυτάλης καὶ πίπτων ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ καὶ ἐλασσούμενος ἄρτοις

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 Ιωαβ δὲ καὶ Αβεσσα ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ διεπαρετηροῦντο τὸν Αβεννηρ ἀνθ’ ὧν ἐθανάτωσεν τὸν Ασαηλ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτῶν ἐν Γαβαων ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ

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

31 καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Ιωαβ καὶ πρὸς πάντα τὸν λαὸν τὸν μετ’ αὐτοῦ διαρρήξατε τὰ ἱμάτια ὑμῶν καὶ περιζώσασθε σάκκους καὶ κόπτεσθε ἔμπροσθεν Αβεννηρ καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς Δαυιδ ἐπορεύετο ὀπίσω τῆς κλίνης

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 καὶ θάπτουσιν τὸν Αβεννηρ εἰς Χεβρων καὶ ἦρεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔκλαυσεν ἐπὶ τοῦ τάφου αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔκλαυσεν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἐπὶ Αβεννηρ

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

33 καὶ ἐθρήνησεν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐπὶ Αβεννηρ καὶ εἶπεν εἰ κατὰ τὸν θάνατον Ναβαλ ἀποθανεῖται Αβεννηρ

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

34 αἱ χεῖρές σου οὐκ ἐδέθησαν οἱ πόδες σου οὐκ ἐν πέδαις οὐ προσήγαγεν ὡς Ναβαλ ἐνώπιον υἱῶν ἀδικίας ἔπεσας καὶ συνήχθη πᾶς ὁ λαὸς τοῦ κλαῦσαι αὐτόν

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 καὶ ἦλθεν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς περιδειπνῆσαι τὸν Δαυιδ ἄρτοις ἔτι οὔσης ἡμέρας καὶ ὤμοσεν Δαυιδ λέγων τάδε ποιήσαι μοι ὁ θεὸς καὶ τάδε προσθείη ὅτι ἐὰν μὴ δύῃ ὁ ἥλιος οὐ μὴ γεύσωμαι ἄρτου ἢ ἀπὸ παντός τινος

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 καὶ ἔγνω πᾶς ὁ λαός καὶ ἤρεσεν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησεν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐνώπιον τοῦ λαοῦ

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

37 καὶ ἔγνω πᾶς ὁ λαὸς καὶ πᾶς Ισραηλ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ὅτι οὐκ ἐγένετο παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως θανατῶσαι τὸν Αβεννηρ υἱὸν Νηρ

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 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς πρὸς τοὺς παῖδας αὐτοῦ οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ἡγούμενος μέγας πέπτωκεν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ ἐν τῷ Ισραηλ

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

39 καὶ ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι σήμερον συγγενὴς καὶ καθεσταμένος ὑπὸ βασιλέως οἱ δὲ ἄνδρες οὗτοι υἱοὶ Σαρουιας σκληρότεροί μού εἰσιν ἀνταποδῷ κύριος τῷ ποιοῦντι πονηρὰ κατὰ τὴν κακίαν αὐτοῦ

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.”