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. ² And there are born to David sons in Hebron, and his first-born is 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, ⁴ and the fourth [is] Adonijah son of Haggith, and the fifth [is] Shephatiah son of Abital, ⁵ and the sixth [is] Ithream, of Eglah wife of David; these have been born to David in Hebron. ⁶ And it comes to pass, in the war being between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner has been strengthening himself in the house of Saul, ⁷ and Saul has a concubine, and her name [is] Rizpah daughter of Aiah, and [Ish-Bosheth] said unto Abner, "Wherefore have you gone in unto the concubine of my father?" ⁸ And it is displeasing to Abner exceedingly, because of the words of Ish-Bosheth, and he said, "The head of a dog [am] I - that in reference to Judah to-day I do kindness with the house of Saul your father, unto his brethren, and unto his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David - that you charge against me iniquity concerning the woman to-day? ⁹ thus does Elohim to Abner, and thus He does add to him, surely as Yahweh has sworn to David - surely so I do 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." ¹¹ And he is not able any more to turn back Abner a word, because of his fearing him. ¹² And Abner sends messengers unto David for himself, saying, "Whose [is] the land?" saying, "Make your covenant with me, and lo, my hand [is] with you, to bring round unto you all Israel." ¹³ And he said, "Good - I make with you a covenant; only, one thing I am asking of you, that is, You do not see my face, except you do first bring in Michal, daughter of Saul in your coming into see my face." ¹⁴ And David sends 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." ¹⁵ And Ish-Bosheth sends, and takes her from a man, from Phaltiel son of Laish, ¹⁶ and her husband goes with her, going on and weeping behind her, unto Bahurim, and Abner said unto him, "Go, turn back"; and he turns back. ¹⁷ And the word of Abner was with the elders of Israel, saying, "Heretofore you have been seeking David for king over you, ¹⁸ and now, do [it], for Yahweh has 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." ¹⁹ And Abner speaks also in the ears of Benjamin, and Abner goes 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, ²⁰ and Abner comes in unto David, to Hebron, and with him twenty men, and David makes for Abner, and for the men who [are] with him, a banquet. ²¹ And Abner said unto David, "I arise, and go, and gather unto my lord the king the whole of Israel, and they make with you a covenant, and you have reigned over all that your soul desires"; and David sends away Abner, and he goes 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 has sent him away, and he goes 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 has come unto the king, and he sends him away, and he goes in peace." ²⁴ And Joab comes unto the king, and said, "What have you done? lo, Abner has come unto you! why [is] this - you have sent him away, and he is really gone? ²⁵ You have known Abner son of Ner, that to deceive you he came, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing." ²⁶ And Joab goes out from David, and sends messengers after Abner, and they bring him back from the well of Sirah, and David knew not. ²⁷ And Abner turns back to Hebron, and Joab turns him aside unto the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and smites him there in the fifth [rib] - and he dies - for the blood of Asahel his brother. ²⁸ And David hears afterwards and said, "Acquitted [am] I, and my kingdom, by Yahweh, unto the eon, from the blood of Abner son of Ner; ²⁹ it does 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." ³⁰ And Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner because that he put to death Asahel their brother, in Gibeon, in battle. ³¹ And David said 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. ³² And they bury Abner in Hebron, and the king lifts up his voice, and weeps at the grave of Abner, and all the people weep; ³³ and the king laments for Abner, and said: "As the death of a fool does Abner die? ³⁴ Your hands not bound, And your feet to fetters not brought nigh! As one falling before sons of evil - You have fallen!" and all the people add to weep over him. ³⁵ And all the people come to cause David to eat bread while yet day, and David swears, saying, "Thus does Elohim to me, and thus He does add, for - before the going in of the sun, I taste no bread or any other thing." ³⁶ And all the people have discerned [it], and it is good in their eyes, as all that the king has done is good in the eyes of all the people; ³⁷ and all the people know, even all Israel, in that day, that it has not been from the king - to put to death Abner son of Ner. ³⁸ And the king said unto his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great one has 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; Yahweh does recompense to the doer of the evil according to his evil."