1 Now there was1961 long752 war4421 between996 the house1004 of Saul7586 and the house1004 of David:1732 but David1732 waxed stronger and stronger,1980 2390 and the house1004 of Saul7586 waxed1980 weaker and weaker.1800

2 And unto David1732 were sons1121 born3205 in Hebron:2275 and his firstborn1060 was1961 Amnon,550 of Ahinoam293 the Jezreelitess;3159

3 And his second,4932 Chileab,3609 of Abigail26 the wife802 of Nabal5037 the Carmelite;3761 and the third,7992 Absalom53 the son1121 of Maacah4601 the daughter1323 of Talmai8526 king4428 of Geshur;1650

4 And the fourth,7243 Adonijah138 the son1121 of Haggith;2294 and the fifth,2549 Shephatiah8203 the son1121 of Abital;37

5 And the sixth,8345 Ithream,3507 by Eglah5698 David's1732 wife.802 These428 were born3205 to David1732 in Hebron.2275

6 And it came to pass,1961 while there was1961 war4421 between996 the house1004 of Saul7586 and the house1004 of David,1732 that Abner74 made himself strong2388 for the house1004 of Saul.7586

7 And Saul7586 had a concubine,6370 whose name8034 was Rizpah,7532 the daughter1323 of Aiah:345 and Ish-bosheth said559 to413 Abner,74 Wherefore4069 hast thou gone935 in unto413 my father's1 concubine?6370

8 Then was Abner74 very3966 wroth2734 for5921 the words1697 of Ish-bosheth,378 and said,559 Am I595 a dog's3611 head,7218 which834 against Judah3063 do show6213 kindness2617 this day3117 unto5973 the house1004 of Saul7586 thy father,1 to413 his brethren,251 and to413 his friends,4828 and have not3808 delivered4672 thee into the hand3027 of David,1732 that thou chargest6485 5921 me today3117 with a fault5771 concerning this woman?802

9 So3541 do6213 God430 to Abner,74 and more3254 also,3541 except,3588 as834 the LORD3068 hath sworn7650 to David,1732 even3588 so3651 I do6213 to him;

10 To translate5674 the kingdom4467 from the house4480 1004 of Saul,7586 and to set up6965 the853 throne3678 of David1732 over5921 Israel3478 and over5921 Judah,3063 from Dan4480 1835 even to5704 Beer-sheba.884

11 And he could3201 not3808 answer7725 853 Abner74 a word1697 again,5750 because he feared4480 3372 him.

12 And Abner74 sent7971 messengers4397 to413 David1732 on his behalf,8478 saying,559 Whose4310 is the land?776 saying559 also, Make3772 thy league1285 with854 me, and, behold,2009 my hand3027 shall be with5973 thee, to bring about5437 853 all3605 Israel3478 unto413 thee.

13 And he said,559 Well;2896 I589 will make3772 a league1285 with854 thee: but389 one259 thing1697 I595 require7592 of4480 854 thee, that is,559 Thou shalt not3808 see7200 853 my face,6440 except3588 518 thou first6440 bring935 853 Michal4324 Saul's7586 daughter,1323 when thou comest935 to see7200 853 my face.6440

14 And David1732 sent7971 messengers4397 to413 Ish-bosheth378 Saul's7586 son,1121 saying,559 Deliver5414 me853 my wife802 853 Michal,4324 which834 I espoused781 to me for a hundred3967 foreskins6190 of the Philistines.6430

15 And Ish-bosheth378 sent,7971 and took3947 her from4480 5973 her husband,376 even from4480 5973 Phaltiel6409 the son1121 of Laish.3919

16 And her husband376 went1980 with854 her along1980 weeping1058 behind310 her to5704 Bahurim.980 Then said559 Abner74 unto413 him, Go,1980 return.7725 And he returned.7725

17 And Abner74 had1961 communication1697 with5973 the elders2205 of Israel,3478 saying,559 Ye sought1961 1245 for853 David1732 in times1571 8543 past1571 8032 to be king4428 over5921 you:

18 Now6258 then do6213 it: for3588 the LORD3068 hath spoken559 of413 David,1732 saying,559 By the hand3027 of my servant5650 David1732 I will save3467 853 my people5971 Israel3478 out of the hand4480 3027 of the Philistines,6430 and out of the hand4480 3027 of all3605 their enemies.341

19 And Abner74 also1571 spoke1696 in the ears241 of Benjamin:1144 and Abner74 went1980 also1571 to speak1696 in the ears241 of David1732 in Hebron2275 853 all3605 that834 seemed good2896 5869 to Israel,3478 and that seemed good5869 to the whole3605 house1004 of Benjamin.1144

20 So Abner74 came935 to413 David1732 to Hebron,2275 and twenty6242 men376 with854 him. And David1732 made6213 Abner74 and the men376 that834 were with854 him a feast.4960

21 And Abner74 said559 unto413 David,1732 I will arise6965 and go,1980 and will gather6908 853 all3605 Israel3478 unto413 my lord113 the king,4428 that they may make3772 a league1285 with854 thee, and that thou mayest reign4427 over all3605 that834 thine heart5315 desireth.183 And David1732 sent7971 853 Abner74 away; and he went1980 in peace.7965

22 And, behold,2009 the servants5650 of David1732 and Joab3097 came935 from pursuing a troop,4480 1416 and brought935 in a great7227 spoil7998 with5973 them: but Abner74 was not369 with5973 David1732 in Hebron;2275 for3588 he had sent him away,7971 and he was gone1980 in peace.7965

23 When Joab3097 and all3605 the host6635 that834 was with854 him were come,935 they told5046 Joab,3097 saying,559 Abner74 the son1121 of Ner5369 came935 to413 the king,4428 and he hath sent him away,7971 and he is gone1980 in peace.7965

24 Then Joab3097 came935 to413 the king,4428 and said,559 What4100 hast thou done?6213 behold,2009 Abner74 came935 unto413 thee; why4100 is it that thou hast sent him away,7971 and he is quite gone?1980

25 Thou knowest3045 853 Abner74 the son1121 of Ner,5369 that3588 he came935 to deceive6601 thee, and to know3045 853 thy going out4161 and thy coming in,4126 and to know3045 853 all3605 that834 thou859 doest.6213

26 And when Joab3097 was come out3318 from4480 5973 David,1732 he sent7971 messengers4397 after310 Abner,74 which brought him again7725 853 from the well4480 953 of Sirah:5626 but David1732 knew3045 it not.3808

27 And when Abner74 was returned7725 to Hebron,2275 Joab3097 took him aside5186 in413 8432 the gate8179 to speak1696 with854 him quietly,7987 and smote5221 him there8033 under the fifth2570 rib, that he died,4191 for the blood1818 of Asahel6214 his brother.251

28 And afterward4480 310 3651 when David1732 heard8085 it, he said,559 I595 and my kingdom4467 are guiltless5355 before4480 5973 the LORD3068 forever5704 5769 from the blood4480 1818 of Abner74 the son1121 of Ner: 5369

29 Let it rest2342 on5921 the head7218 of Joab,3097 and on413 all3605 his father's1 house;1004 and let there not408 fail3772 from the house4480 1004 of Joab3097 one that hath an issue,2100 or that is a leper,6879 or that leaneth2388 on a staff,6418 or that falleth5307 on the sword,2719 or that lacketh2638 bread.3899

30 So Joab3097 and Abishai52 his brother251 slew2026 Abner,74 because5921 834 he had slain4191 their brother251 853 Asahel6214 at Gibeon1391 in the battle.4421

31 And David1732 said559 to413 Joab,3097 and to413 all3605 the people5971 that834 were with854 him, Rend7167 your clothes,899 and gird2296 you with sackcloth,8242 and mourn5594 before6440 Abner.74 And king4428 David1732 himself followed310 the bier.4296

32 And they buried6912 853 Abner74 in Hebron:2275 and the king4428 lifted up5375 853 his voice,6963 and wept1058 at413 the grave6913 of Abner;74 and all3605 the people5971 wept.1058

33 And the king4428 lamented6969 over413 Abner,74 and said,559 Died4191 Abner74 as a fool5036 dieth?4194

34 Thy hands3027 were not3808 bound,631 nor3808 thy feet7272 put5066 into fetters:5178 as a man1121 falleth5307 before6440 wicked5766 men,1121 so fellest5307 thou. And all3605 the people5971 wept1058 again3254 over5921 him.

35 And when all3605 the people5971 came935 to cause853 David1732 to eat1262 meat3899 while it was yet5750 day,3117 David1732 swore,7650 saying,559 So3541 do6213 God430 to me, and more3254 also,3541 if3588 518 I taste2938 bread,3899 or176 aught else,3605 3972 till6440 the sun8121 be down.935

36 And all3605 the people5971 took notice5234 of it, and it pleased them:3190 5869 as whatsoever3605 834 the king4428 did6213 pleased2895 5869 all3605 the people.5971

37 For all3605 the people5971 and all3605 Israel3478 understood3045 that1931 day3117 that3588 it was1961 not3808 of the king4480 4428 to slay4191 Abner74 the son1121 of Ner.5369

38 And the king4428 said559 unto413 his servants,5650 Know3045 ye not3808 that3588 there is a prince8269 and a great man1419 fallen5307 this2088 day3117 in Israel?3478

39 And I595 am this day3117 weak,7390 though anointed4886 king;4428 and these428 men376 the sons1121 of Zeruiah6870 be too hard7186 for4480 me: the LORD3068 shall reward7999 the doer6213 of evil7451 according to his wickedness.7451