Ii Samuelis 3

1 facta est ergo longa concertatio inter domum Saul et inter domum David David proficiens et semper se ipso robustior domus autem Saul decrescens cotidie

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 nati quoque sunt filii David in Hebron fuitque primogenitus eius Amnon de Ahinoem Iezrahelitide

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

3 et post eum Chelaab de Abigail uxore Nabal Carmeli porro tertius Absalom filius Maacha filiae Tholomai regis Gessur

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 quartus autem Adonias filius Aggith et quintus Safathia filius Abital

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

5 sextus quoque Iethraam de Agla uxore David hii nati sunt David in Hebron

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

6 cum ergo esset proelium inter domum Saul et domum David Abner filius Ner regebat domum Saul

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

7 fuerat autem Sauli concubina nomine Respha filia Ahia dixitque Hisboseth ad Abner

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 quare ingressus es ad concubinam patris mei qui iratus nimis propter verba Hisboseth ait numquid caput canis ego sum adversum Iuda hodie qui fecerim misericordiam super domum Saul patris tui et super fratres et proximos eius et non tradidi te in manu David et tu requisisti in me quod argueres pro muliere hodie

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

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

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 et non potuit respondere ei quicquam quia metuebat illum

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

12 misit ergo Abner nuntios ad David pro se dicentes cuius est terra et loquerentur fac mecum amicitias et erit manus mea tecum et reducam ad te universum Israhel

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 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

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 misit autem David nuntios ad Hisboseth filium Saul dicens redde uxorem meam Michol quam despondi mihi centum praeputiis Philisthim

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 misit ergo Hisboseth et tulit eam a viro suo Faltihel filio Lais

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

16 sequebaturque eam vir suus plorans usque Baurim et dixit ad eum Abner vade revertere qui reversus est

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 sermonem quoque intulit Abner ad seniores Israhel dicens tam heri quam nudius tertius quaerebatis David ut regnaret super vos

Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past, you sought for 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 Israhel de manu Philisthim et omnium inimicorum eius

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 locutus est autem Abner etiam ad Beniamin et abiit ut loqueretur ad David in Hebron omnia quae placuerant Israhel et universo Beniamin

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 venitque ad David in Hebron cum viginti viris et fecit David Abner et viris eius qui venerant cum eo convivium

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 et dixit Abner ad David surgam ut congregem ad te dominum meum regem omnem Israhel et ineam tecum foedus et imperes omnibus sicut desiderat anima tua cum ergo deduxisset David Abner et ille isset in pace

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 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

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 et Ioab et omnis exercitus qui erat cum eo postea venerant nuntiatum est itaque Ioab a narrantibus venit Abner filius Ner ad regem et dimisit eum et abiit in pace

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

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 egressus itaque Ioab a David misit nuntios post Abner et reduxit eum a cisterna Sira ignorante David

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 cumque redisset Abner in Hebron seorsum abduxit eum Ioab ad medium portae ut loqueretur ei in dolo et percussit illum ibi in inguine et mortuus est in ultionem sanguinis Asahel fratris eius

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

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 igitur Ioab et Abisai frater eius interfecerunt Abner eo quod occidisset Asahel fratrem eorum in Gabaon in proelio

So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at 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

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 cumque sepelissent Abner in Hebron levavit rex vocem suam et flevit super tumulum Abner flevit autem et omnis populus

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

33 plangensque rex Abner ait nequaquam ut mori solent ignavi mortuus est Abner

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

34 manus tuae non sunt ligatae et pedes tui non sunt conpedibus adgravati sed sicut solent cadere coram filiis iniquitatis corruisti congeminansque omnis populus flevit super eum

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 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 quicquam

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 omnisque populus audivit et placuerunt eis cuncta quae fecit rex in conspectu totius populi

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

37 et cognovit omne vulgus et universus Israhel in die illa quoniam non actum fuisset a rege ut occideretur Abner filius 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 dixit quoque rex ad servos suos num ignoratis quoniam princeps et maximus cecidit hodie in Israhel

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

39 ego autem adhuc delicatus et unctus rex porro viri isti filii Sarviae duri mihi sunt retribuat Dominus facienti malum iuxta malitiam suam

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.”