Ii Samuelis 3

1 Facta est ergo longa concertatio inter domum David, et inter domum Saulis: David proficiscens, et semper seipso robustior, domus autem Saul decrescens quotidie.

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 Natique sunt filii David in Hebron: fuitque primogenitus eius Amnon de Achinoam Iezraelitide.

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

3 Et post eum Cheleab de Abigail uxore Nabal Carmeli: porro tertius Absalom filius Maacha filiae Tholmai regis Gessur.

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 Quartus autem Adonias, filius Haggith: et quintus Saphathia, filius Abital.

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

5 Sextus quoque Iethraam de Egla uxore David. hi nati sunt David in Hebron.

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

6 Cum ergo esset praelium inter domum Saul et domum David, Abner filius Ner regebat domum 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 Fuerat autem Sauli concubina nomine Respha, filia Aia. Dixitque Isboseth ad Abner:

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 Quare ingressus es ad concubinam patris mei? Qui iratus nimis propter verba Isboseth, ait: Numquid caput canis ego sum adversum Iudam hodie, qui fecerim misericordiam super domum Saul patris tui, et super fratres et proximos eius, et non tradidi te in manus David, et tu requisisti in me quod argueres pro muliere hodie?

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 Haec faciat Deus Abner, et haec addat ei, nisi quomodo iuravit Dominus David, sic faciam cum eo,

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 ut transferatur regnum de domo Saul, et elevetur thronus David super Israel, et super Iudam, a Dan usque Bersabee.

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 Et non potuit respondere ei quidquam, quia metuebat illum.

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

12 Misit ergo Abner nuncios ad David pro se dicentes: Cuius est terra? Et ut loquerentur: Fac mecum amicitias, et erit manus mea tecum, et reducam ad te universum 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 Qui ait: Optime: ego faciam tecum amicitias: sed unam rem peto a te, dicens: Non videbis faciem meam antequam adduxeris Michol filiam Saul: et sic venies, et videbis me.

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 Misit autem David nuncios ad Isboseth filium Saul, dicens: Redde uxorem meam Michol, quam despondi mihi centum praeputiis Philisthiim.

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 Misit ergo Isboseth, et tulit eam a viro suo Phaltiel, filio Lais.

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

16 Sequebaturque eam vir suus, plorans usque Bahurim: et dixit ad eum Abner: Vade, et revertere. Qui reversus est.

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 Sermonem quoque intulit Abner ad seniores Israel, dicens: Tam heri quam nudiustertius quaerebatis David ut regnaret super vos.

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

18 Nunc ergo facite: quoniam Dominus locutus est ad David, dicens: In manu servi mei David salvabo populum meum Israel de manu Philisthiim, et omnium inimicorum eius.

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 Locutus est autem Abner etiam ad Beniamin. Et abiit ut loqueretur ad David in Hebron omnia quae placuerant Israeli, et universo Beniamin.

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 Venitque ad David in Hebron cum viginti viris: et fecit David Abner, et viri eius qui venerant cum eo, convivium.

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 Et dixit Abner ad David: Surgam, ut congregem ad te dominum meum regem omnem Israel, et ineam tecum foedus, et imperes omnibus, sicut desiderat anima tua. Cum ergo deduxisset David Abner, et ille isset in pace,

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 statim pueri David, et Ioab venerunt, caesis latronibus, cum praeda magna nimis: Abner autem non erat cum David in Hebron, quia iam dimiserat eum, et profectus fuerat in pace.

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 Et Ioab, et omnis exercitus, qui erant cum eo, postea venerunt: nunciatum est itaque Ioab a narrantibus: Venit Abner filius Ner ad regem, et dimisit eum, et abiit in pace.

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 Et ingressus est Ioab ad regem, et ait: Quid fecisti? Ecce venit Abner ad te: quare dimisisti eum, et abiit et recessit?

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 ignoras Abner filium Ner, quoniam ad hoc venit ad te ut deciperet te, et sciret exitum tuum, et introitum tuum, et nosset omnia quae agis?

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 Egressus itaque Ioab a David, misit nuncios post Abner, et reduxit eum a cisterna Sira, ignorante David.

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 Cumque rediisset Abner in Hebron, seorsum adduxit eum Ioab ad medium portae, ut loqueretur ei, in dolo: et percussit illum ibi in inguine, et mortuus est in ultionem sanguinis Asael fratris eius.

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 Quod cum audisset David rem iam gestam, ait: Mundus ego sum, et regnum meum apud Deum usque in sempiternum a sanguine Abner filii 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 et veniat super caput Ioab, et super omnem domum patris eius: nec deficiat de domo Ioab fluxum seminis sustinens, et leprosus, et tenens fusum, et cadens gladio, et indigens pane.

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 Igitur Ioab et Abisai frater eius interfecerunt Abner, eo quod occidisset Asael fratrem eorum in Gabaon in praelio.

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

31 Dixit autem David ad Ioab, et ad omnem populum, qui erat cum eo: Scindite vestimenta vestra, et accingimini saccis, et plangite ante exequias Abner. porro rex David sequebatur feretrum.

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 Cumque sepelissent Abner in Hebron, levavit rex David vocem suam, et flevit super tumulum Abner: flevit autem et omnis populus.

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 Plangensque rex et lugens Abner, ait: Nequaquam ut mori solent ignavi, mortuus est Abner.

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

34 Manus tuae ligatae non sunt, et pedes tui non sunt compedibus aggravati: sed sicut solent cadere coram filiis iniquitatis, sic corruisti. Congeminansque omnis populus flevit super eum.

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 Cumque venisset universa multitudo cibum capere cum David, clara adhuc die iuravit David, dicens: Haec faciat mihi Deus, et haec addat, si ante occasum solis gustavero panem vel aliud quidquam.

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 Omnisque populus audivit, et placuerunt eis cuncta quae fecit rex in conspectu totius populi.

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 et cognovit omne vulgus, et universus Israel in die illa quoniam non actum fuisset a rege ut occideretur Abner filius 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 Dixit quoque rex ad servos suos: Num ignoratis quoniam princeps et maximus cecidit hodie 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 Ego autem adhuc delicatus, et unctus rex: porro viri isti filii Sarviae duri sunt mihi: retribuat Dominus facienti malum iuxta malitiam suam.

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.