Now there was long{H752} war{H4421} between the house{H1004} of Saul{H7586} and the house{H1004} of David:{H1732} and David{H1732} waxed{H1980} stronger{H2390} and stronger,{H2390} but the house{H1004} of Saul{H7586} waxed{H1980} weaker{H1800} and weaker.{H1800}

And unto David{H1732} were sons{H1121} born{H3205} in Hebron:{H2275} and his first-born{H1060} was Amnon,{H550} of Ahinoam{H293} the Jezreelitess;{H3159}

and his second,{H4932} Chileab,{H3609} of Abigail{H26} the wife{H802} of Nabal{H5037} the Carmelite;{H3761} and the third,{H7992} Absalom{H53} the son{H1121} of Maacah{H4601} the daughter{H1323} of Talmai{H8526} king{H4428} of Geshur;{H1650}

and the fourth,{H7243} Adonijah{H138} the son{H1121} of Haggith;{H2294} and the fifth,{H2549} Shephatiah{H8203} the son{H1121} of Abital;{H37}

and the sixth,{H8345} Ithream,{H3507} of Eglah,{H5698} David's{H1732} wife.{H802} These were born{H3205} to David{H1732} in Hebron.{H2275}

And it came to pass, while there was war{H4421} between the house{H1004} of Saul{H7586} and the house{H1004} of David,{H1732} that Abner{H74} made himself strong{H2388} in the house{H1004} of Saul.{H7586}

Now Saul{H7586} had a concubine,{H6370} whose name{H8034} was Rizpah,{H7532} the daughter{H1323} of Aiah:{H345} and [Ish-bosheth] said{H559} to Abner,{H74} Wherefore hast thou gone in{H935} unto my father's{H1} concubine?{H6370}

Then was Abner{H74} very{H3966} wroth{H2734} for the words{H1697} of Ish-bosheth,{H378} and said,{H559} Am I a dog's{H3611} head{H7218} that belongeth to Judah?{H3063} This day{H3117} do I show{H6213} kindness{H2617} unto the house{H1004} of Saul{H7586} thy father,{H1} to his brethren,{H251} and to his friends,{H4828} and have not delivered{H4672} thee into the hand{H3027} of David;{H1732} and yet thou chargest{H6485} me this day{H3117} with a fault{H5771} concerning this woman.{H802}

God{H430} do{H6213} so to Abner,{H74} and more also,{H3254} if, as Jehovah{H3068} hath sworn{H7650} to David,{H1732} I do{H6213} not even so to him;

to transfer{H5674} the kingdom{H4467} from the house{H1004} of Saul,{H7586} and to set up{H6965} the throne{H3678} of David{H1732} over Israel{H3478} and over Judah,{H3063} from Dan{H1835} even to Beer-sheba.{H884}

And he could{H3201} not answer{H7725} Abner{H74} another word,{H1697} because he feared{H3372} him.

And Abner{H74} sent{H7971} messengers{H4397} to David{H1732} on his behalf, saying,{H559} Whose is the land?{H776} saying{H559} [also], Make{H3772} thy league{H1285} with me, and, behold, my hand{H3027} shall be with thee, to bring about{H5437} all Israel{H3478} unto thee.

And he said,{H559} Well;{H2896} I will make{H3772} a league{H1285} with thee; but one{H259} thing{H1697} I require{H7592} of thee: that is,{H559} thou shalt not see{H7200} my face,{H6440} except thou first{H6440} bring{H935} Michal,{H4324} Saul's{H7586} daughter,{H1323} when thou comest{H935} to see{H7200} my face.{H6440}

And David{H1732} sent{H7971} messengers{H4397} to Ish-bosheth,{H378} Saul's{H7586} son,{H1121} saying,{H559} Deliver{H5414} me my wife{H802} Michal,{H4324} whom I betrothed{H781} to me for a hundred{H3967} foreskins{H6190} of the Philistines.{H6430}

And Ish-bosheth{H378} sent,{H7971} and took{H3947} her from her husband,{H376} even from Paltiel{H6409} the son{H1121} of Laish.{H3889}

And her husband{H376} went{H3212} with her, weeping{H1980} as he went, and followed{H310} her to Bahurim.{H980} Then said{H559} Abner{H74} unto him, Go,{H3212} return:{H7725} and he returned.{H7725}

And Abner{H74} had communication{H1961} with the elders{H2205} of Israel,{H3478} saying,{H559} In times{H8543} past{H8032} ye sought{H1245} for David{H1732} to be king{H4428} over you:

now then do{H6213} it; for Jehovah{H3068} hath spoken{H559} of David,{H1732} saying,{H559} By the hand{H3027} of my servant{H5650} David{H1732} I will save{H3467} my people{H5971} Israel{H3478} out of the hand{H3027} of the Philistines,{H6430} and out of the hand{H3027} of all their enemies.{H341}

And Abner{H74} also spake{H1696} in the ears{H241} of Benjamin:{H1144} and Abner{H74} went{H3212} also to speak{H1696} in the ears{H241} of David{H1732} in Hebron{H2275} all that seemed{H5869} good{H2896} to Israel,{H3478} and{H5869} to the whole house{H1004} of Benjamin.{H1144}

So Abner{H74} came{H935} to David{H1732} to Hebron,{H2275} and twenty{H6242} men{H582} with him. And David{H1732} made{H6213} Abner{H74} and the men{H582} that were with him a feast.{H4960}

And Abner{H74} said{H559} unto David,{H1732} I will arise{H6965} and go,{H3212} and will gather{H6908} all Israel{H3478} unto my lord{H113} the king,{H4428} that they may make{H3772} a covenant{H1285} with thee, and that thou mayest reign{H4427} over all that thy soul{H5315} desireth.{H183} And David{H1732} sent{H7971} Abner{H74} away;{H7971} and he went{H3212} in peace.{H7965}

And, behold, the servants{H5650} of David{H1732} and Joab{H3097} came{H935} from a foray,{H1416} and brought in{H935} a great{H7227} spoil{H7998} with them: but Abner{H74} was not with David{H1732} in Hebron;{H2275} for he had sent him away,{H7971} and he was gone{H3212} in peace.{H7965}

When Joab{H3097} and all the host{H6635} that was with him were come,{H935} they told{H5046} Joab,{H3097} saying,{H559} Abner{H74} the son{H1121} of Ner{H5369} came{H935} to the king,{H4428} and he hath sent him away,{H7971} and he is gone{H3212} in peace.{H7965}

Then Joab{H3097} came{H935} to the king,{H4428} and said,{H559} What hast thou done?{H6213} behold, Abner{H74} came{H935} unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away,{H7971} and he is quite{H1980} gone?{H3212}

Thou knowest{H3045} Abner{H74} the son{H1121} of Ner,{H5369} that he came{H935} to deceive{H6601} thee, and to know{H3045} thy going out{H4161} and thy coming in,{H4126} and to know{H3045} all that thou doest.{H6213}

And when Joab{H3097} was come out{H3318} from David,{H1732} he sent{H7971} messengers{H4397} after{H310} Abner,{H74} and they brought him back{H7725} from the well{H953} of Sirah:{H5626} but David{H1732} knew{H3045} it not.

And when Abner{H74} was returned{H7725} to Hebron,{H2275} Joab{H3097} took him aside{H5186} into the midst{H413} of the gate{H8179} to speak{H1696} with him quietly,{H7987} and smote{H5221} him there in the body,{H2570} so that he died,{H4191} for the blood{H1818} of Asahel{H6214} his brother.{H251}

And afterward,{H310} when David{H1732} heard{H8085} it, he said,{H559} I and my kingdom{H4467} are guiltless{H5355} before Jehovah{H3068} for{H5704} ever{H5769} of the blood{H1818} of Abner{H74} the son{H1121} of Ner:{H5369}

let it fall{H2342} upon the head{H7218} of Joab,{H3097} and upon all his father's{H1} house;{H1004} and let there not fail{H3772} from the house{H1004} of Joab{H3097} one that hath an issue,{H2100} or that is a leper,{H6879} or that leaneth{H2388} on a staff,{H6418} or that falleth{H5307} by the sword,{H2719} or that lacketh{H2638} bread.{H3899}

So Joab{H3097} and Abishai{H52} his brother{H251} slew{H2026} Abner,{H74} because he had killed{H4191} their brother{H251} Asahel{H6214} at Gibeon{H1391} in the battle.{H4421}

And David{H1732} said{H559} to Joab,{H3097} and to all the people{H5971} that were with him, Rend{H7167} your clothes,{H899} and gird{H2296} you with sackcloth,{H8242} and mourn{H5594} before{H6440} Abner.{H74} And king{H4428} David{H1732} followed{H1980} the bier.{H4296}

And they buried{H6912} Abner{H74} in Hebron:{H2275} and the king{H4428} lifted up{H5375} his voice,{H6963} and wept{H1058} at the grave{H6913} of Abner;{H74} and all the people{H5971} wept.{H1058}

And the king{H4428} lamented{H6969} for Abner,{H74} and said,{H559} Should Abner{H74} die{H4191} as a fool{H5036} dieth?{H4191}

Thy hands{H3027} were not bound,{H631} nor thy feet{H7272} put{H5066} into fetters:{H5178} As a man falleth{H5307} before{H6440} the children{H1121} of iniquity,{H5766} so didst thou fall.{H5307} And all the people{H5971} wept{H1058} again{H3254} over him.

And all{H3605} the people{H5971} came{H935} to cause{H1262} David{H1732} to eat{H1262} bread{H3899} while it was yet{H5750} day;{H3117} but David{H1732} sware,{H7650} saying,{H559} God{H430} do{H6213} so to me, and more also,{H3254} if I taste{H2938} bread,{H3899} or aught{H3972} else, till{H6440} the sun{H8121} be down.{H935}

And all the people{H5971} took notice{H5234} of it, and it pleased{H3190} them; as whatsoever the king{H4428} did{H6213} pleased{H5869} all the people.{H5971}

So all the people{H5971} and all Israel{H3478} understood{H3045} that day{H3117} that it was not of the king{H4428} to slay{H4191} Abner{H74} the son{H1121} of Ner.{H5369}

And the king{H4428} said{H559} unto his servants,{H5650} Know{H3045} ye not that there is a prince{H8269} and a great man{H1419} fallen{H5307} this day{H3117} in Israel?{H3478}

And I am this day{H3117} weak,{H7390} though anointed{H4886} king;{H4428} and these men{H582} the sons{H1121} of Zeruiah{H6870} are too hard{H7186} for me: Jehovah{H3068} reward{H7999} the evil-doer{H6213} according to his wickedness.{H6213}