Now there was long{H752} war{H4421} between the house{H1004} of Saul{H7586} and the house{H1004} of David{H1732}: but David{H1732} waxed{H1980}{(H8802)} stronger{H2390} and stronger{H2390}, and the house{H1004} of Saul{H7586} waxed{H1980}{(H8802)} weaker{H1800} and weaker{H1800}.

And unto David{H1732} were sons{H1121} born{H3205}{(H8735)}{(H8675)}{H3205}{(H8795)} in Hebron{H2275}: and his firstborn{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}, by Eglah{H5698} David's{H1732} wife{H802}. These were born{H3205}{(H8795)} 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}{(H8693)} for the house{H1004} of Saul{H7586}.

And Saul{H7586} had a concubine{H6370}, whose name{H8034} was Rizpah{H7532}, the daughter{H1323} of Aiah{H345}: and Ishbosheth said{H559}{(H8799)} to Abner{H74}, Wherefore hast thou gone in{H935}{(H8804)} unto my father's{H1} concubine{H6370}?

Then was Abner{H74} very{H3966} wroth{H2734}{(H8799)} for the words{H1697} of Ishbosheth{H378}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Am I a dog's{H3611} head{H7218}, which against Judah{H3063} do shew{H6213}{(H8799)} kindness{H2617} this day{H3117} unto the house{H1004} of Saul{H7586} thy father{H1}, to his brethren{H251}, and to his friends{H4828}, and have not delivered{H4672}{(H8689)} thee into the hand{H3027} of David{H1732}, that thou chargest{H6485}{(H8799)} me to day{H3117} with a fault{H5771} concerning this woman{H802}?

So do{H6213}{(H8799)} God{H430} to Abner{H74}, and more also{H3254}{(H8686)}, except, as the LORD{H3068} hath sworn{H7650}{(H8738)} to David{H1732}, even so I do{H6213}{(H8799)} to him;

To translate{H5674}{(H8687)} the kingdom{H4467} from the house{H1004} of Saul{H7586}, and to set up{H6965}{(H8687)} the throne{H3678} of David{H1732} over Israel{H3478} and over Judah{H3063}, from Dan{H1835} even to Beersheba{H884}.

And he could{H3201}{(H8804)} not answer{H7725}{(H8687)} Abner{H74} a word{H1697} again, because he feared{H3372}{(H8800)} him.

And Abner{H74} sent{H7971}{(H8799)} messengers{H4397} to David{H1732} on his behalf, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Whose is the land{H776}? saying{H559}{(H8800)} also, Make{H3772}{(H8798)} thy league{H1285} with me, and, behold, my hand{H3027} shall be with thee, to bring about{H5437}{(H8687)} all Israel{H3478} unto thee.

And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Well{H2896}; I will make{H3772}{(H8799)} a league{H1285} with thee: but one{H259} thing{H1697} I require{H7592}{(H8802)} of thee, that is{H559}{(H8800)}, Thou shalt not see{H7200}{(H8799)} my face{H6440}, except thou first{H6440} bring{H935}{(H8687)} Michal{H4324} Saul's{H7586} daughter{H1323}, when thou comest{H935}{(H8800)} to see{H7200}{(H8800)} my face{H6440}.

And David{H1732} sent{H7971}{(H8799)} messengers{H4397} to Ishbosheth{H378} Saul's{H7586} son{H1121}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Deliver{H5414}{(H8798)} me my wife{H802} Michal{H4324}, which I espoused{H781}{(H8765)} to me for an hundred{H3967} foreskins{H6190} of the Philistines{H6430}.

And Ishbosheth{H378} sent{H7971}{(H8799)}, and took{H3947}{(H8799)} her from her husband{H376}, even from Phaltiel{H6409} the son{H1121} of Laish{H3889}{(H8675)}{H3919}.

And her husband{H376} went{H3212}{(H8799)} with her along weeping{H1980}{(H8800)}{H1058}{(H8800)} behind{H310} her to Bahurim{H980}. Then said{H559}{(H8799)} Abner{H74} unto him, Go{H3212}{(H8798)}, return{H7725}{(H8798)}. And he returned{H7725}{(H8799)}.

And Abner{H74} had communication{H1961}{(H8804)}{H1697} with the elders{H2205} of Israel{H3478}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Ye sought{H1245}{(H8764)} for David{H1732} in times{H8543} past{H8032} to be king{H4428} over you:

Now then do{H6213}{(H8798)} it: for the LORD{H3068} hath spoken{H559}{(H8804)} of David{H1732}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, By the hand{H3027} of my servant{H5650} David{H1732} I will save{H3467}{(H8687)} 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}{(H8802)}.

And Abner{H74} also spake{H1696}{(H8762)} in the ears{H241} of Benjamin{H1144}: and Abner{H74} went{H3212}{(H8799)} also to speak{H1696}{(H8763)} in the ears{H241} of David{H1732} in Hebron{H2275} all that seemed{H5869} good{H2896} to Israel{H3478}, and that seemed good{H5869} to the whole house{H1004} of Benjamin{H1144}.

So Abner{H74} came{H935}{(H8799)} to David{H1732} to Hebron{H2275}, and twenty{H6242} men{H582} with him. And David{H1732} made{H6213}{(H8799)} Abner{H74} and the men{H582} that were with him a feast{H4960}.

And Abner{H74} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto David{H1732}, I will arise{H6965}{(H8799)} and go{H3212}{(H8799)}, and will gather{H6908}{(H8799)} all Israel{H3478} unto my lord{H113} the king{H4428}, that they may make{H3772}{(H8799)} a league{H1285} with thee, and that thou mayest reign{H4427}{(H8804)} over all that thine heart{H5315} desireth{H183}{(H8762)}. And David{H1732} sent{H7971} Abner{H74} away{H7971}{(H8762)}; and he went{H3212}{(H8799)} in peace{H7965}.

And, behold, the servants{H5650} of David{H1732} and Joab{H3097} came{H935}{(H8802)} from pursuing a troop{H1416}, and brought in{H935}{(H8689)} 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}{(H8765)}, and he was gone{H3212}{(H8799)} in peace{H7965}.

When Joab{H3097} and all the host{H6635} that was with him were come{H935}{(H8804)}, they told{H5046}{(H8686)} Joab{H3097}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Abner{H74} the son{H1121} of Ner{H5369} came{H935}{(H8804)} to the king{H4428}, and he hath sent him away{H7971}{(H8762)}, and he is gone{H3212}{(H8799)} in peace{H7965}.

Then Joab{H3097} came{H935}{(H8799)} to the king{H4428}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, What hast thou done{H6213}{(H8804)}? behold, Abner{H74} came{H935}{(H8802)} unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away{H7971}{(H8765)}, and he is quite{H1980}{(H8800)} gone{H3212}{(H8799)}?

Thou knowest{H3045}{(H8804)} Abner{H74} the son{H1121} of Ner{H5369}, that he came{H935}{(H8804)} to deceive{H6601}{(H8763)} thee, and to know{H3045}{(H8800)} thy going out{H4161} and thy coming in{H4126}{(H8675)}{H3996}, and to know{H3045}{(H8800)} all that thou doest{H6213}{(H8802)}.

And when Joab{H3097} was come out{H3318}{(H8799)} from David{H1732}, he sent{H7971}{(H8799)} messengers{H4397} after{H310} Abner{H74}, which brought him again{H7725}{(H8686)} from the well{H953} of Sirah{H5626}: but David{H1732} knew{H3045}{(H8804)} it not.

And when Abner{H74} was returned{H7725}{(H8799)} to Hebron{H2275}, Joab{H3097} took him aside{H5186}{(H8686)} in{H413}{H8432} the gate{H8179} to speak{H1696}{(H8763)} with him quietly{H7987}, and smote{H5221}{(H8686)} him there under the fifth{H2570} rib, that he died{H4191}{(H8799)}, for the blood{H1818} of Asahel{H6214} his brother{H251}.

And afterward{H310} when David{H1732} heard{H8085}{(H8799)} it, he said{H559}{(H8799)}, I and my kingdom{H4467} are guiltless{H5355} before the LORD{H3068} for{H5704} ever{H5769} from the blood{H1818} of Abner{H74} the son{H1121} of Ner{H5369}:

Let it rest{H2342}{(H8799)} on the head{H7218} of Joab{H3097}, and on all his father's{H1} house{H1004}; and let there not fail{H3772}{(H8735)} from the house{H1004} of Joab{H3097} one that hath an issue{H2100}{(H8802)}, or that is a leper{H6879}{(H8794)}, or that leaneth{H2388}{(H8688)} on a staff{H6418}, or that falleth{H5307}{(H8802)} on the sword{H2719}, or that lacketh{H2638} bread{H3899}.

So Joab{H3097} and Abishai{H52} his brother{H251} slew{H2026}{(H8804)} Abner{H74}, because he had slain{H4191}{(H8689)} their brother{H251} Asahel{H6214} at Gibeon{H1391} in the battle{H4421}.

And David{H1732} said{H559}{(H8799)} to Joab{H3097}, and to all the people{H5971} that were with him, Rend{H7167}{(H8798)} your clothes{H899}, and gird{H2296}{(H8798)} you with sackcloth{H8242}, and mourn{H5594}{(H8798)} before{H6440} Abner{H74}. And king{H4428} David{H1732} himself followed{H1980}{(H8802)}{H310} the bier{H4296}.

And they buried{H6912}{(H8799)} Abner{H74} in Hebron{H2275}: and the king{H4428} lifted up{H5375}{(H8799)} his voice{H6963}, and wept{H1058}{(H8799)} at the grave{H6913} of Abner{H74}; and all the people{H5971} wept{H1058}{(H8799)}.

And the king{H4428} lamented{H6969}{(H8787)} over Abner{H74}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Died{H4191}{(H8799)} Abner{H74} as a fool{H5036} dieth{H4194}?

Thy hands{H3027} were not bound{H631}{(H8803)}, nor thy feet{H7272} put{H5066}{(H8717)} into fetters{H5178}: as a man falleth{H5307}{(H8800)} before{H6440} wicked{H5766} men{H1121}, so fellest{H5307}{(H8804)} thou. And all the people{H5971} wept{H1058}{(H8800)} again{H3254}{(H8686)} over him.

And when all{H3605} the people{H5971} came{H935}{(H8799)} to cause{H1262} David{H1732} to eat{H1262}{(H8687)} meat{H3899} while it was yet{H5750} day{H3117}, David{H1732} sware{H7650}{(H8735)}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, So do{H6213}{(H8799)} God{H430} to me, and more also{H3254}{(H8686)}, if I taste{H2938}{(H8799)} bread{H3899}, or ought{H3972} else, till{H6440} the sun{H8121} be down{H935}{(H8800)}.

And all the people{H5971} took notice{H5234}{(H8689)} of it, and it pleased{H3190}{(H8799)}{H5869} them: as whatsoever the king{H4428} did{H6213}{(H8804)} pleased{H5869}{H2896} all the people{H5971}.

For all the people{H5971} and all Israel{H3478} understood{H3045}{(H8799)} that day{H3117} that it was not of the king{H4428} to slay{H4191}{(H8687)} Abner{H74} the son{H1121} of Ner{H5369}.

And the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto his servants{H5650}, Know{H3045}{(H8799)} ye not that there is a prince{H8269} and a great man{H1419} fallen{H5307}{(H8804)} this day{H3117} in Israel{H3478}?

And I am this day{H3117} weak{H7390}, though anointed{H4886}{(H8803)} king{H4428}; and these men{H582} the sons{H1121} of Zeruiah{H6870} be too hard{H7186} for me: the LORD{H3068} shall reward{H7999}{(H8762)} the doer of evil{H6213}{(H8802)} according to his wickedness{H7451}.