2 Samuel 3

1The war between Saul’s house and David’s house dragged on for a long time. David grew steadily stronger, while the house of Saul grew steadily weaker.

2Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam of Jezreel. 3His second was Chileab, whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. The third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur. 4The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, and the fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital. 5The sixth was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, David’s wife. These sons were born to David in Hebron.

6While the war went on between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was steadily building up his own power in the house of Saul. 7Now Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you slept with my father’s concubine?” 8Abner was furious at Ish-bosheth’s words. “Am I a dog’s head on Judah’s side?” he said. “To this day I have kept faithful love toward the house of your father Saul, toward his brothers and his friends, and I have not let you fall into David’s hands. And now you charge me with wrongdoing over this woman! 9May God deal with me, Abner, ever so severely if I fail to carry out for David what the LORD promised him on oath, 10by taking the kingdom from the house of Saul and setting up David’s throne over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” 11Ish-bosheth could not say another word in reply to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

12Abner sent messengers to David on his own behalf to say, “Whose land is it? Make your covenant with me, and I will give you my support to bring all Israel over to you.” 13David replied, “Good. I will make a covenant with you. But I require one thing of you: you will not see my face unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul with you when you come to see me.”

14Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth son of Saul to say, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I won as my bride at the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.” 15So Ish-bosheth sent and took her away from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish. 16Her husband went with her, weeping as he followed behind her as far as Bahurim. There Abner told him, “Go on, go back.” And he went back. 17Abner had talks with the elders of Israel. He said, “For some time now you have wanted David as your king. 18Now do it! For the LORD has said of David, ‘Through my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the power of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’” 19Abner also spoke with the Benjaminites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David in person all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin had agreed to. 20When Abner came to David at Hebron with twenty men, David held a feast for Abner and the men with him. 21Then Abner said to David, “Let me set out now and gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they can make a covenant with you, and you will rule over all that you desire.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace. 22Just then David’s men and Joab came back from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away and he had gone in peace. 23When Joab and all the army with him arrived, Joab was told, “Abner son of Ner came to the king, and the king sent him away, and he has gone in peace.” 24Joab went in to the king. “What have you done?” he said. “Abner came to you! Why did you send him away? Now he has got clean away! 25You know Abner son of Ner! He came to deceive you, to learn all your movements and find out everything you are doing.” 26After leaving David, Joab sent messengers to go after Abner, and they fetched him back from the well of Sirah. David knew nothing of this. 27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the gateway, as if to speak with him privately. There he stabbed him in the belly, and Abner died, in revenge for the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel. 28Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “Before the LORD, I and my kingdom are innocent of the blood of Abner son of Ner for all time. 29May the guilt come down on Joab’s head and on his father’s whole house! May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a discharge or a serious skin disease, or who holds a spindle, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks food!” 30So it was that Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, for he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

31Then David told Joab and all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, wrap yourselves in sackcloth, and mourn as you walk ahead of Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the bier. 32They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner’s grave, and all the people wept too.

33The king sang a lament for Abner. He said, “Should Abner have died as a fool dies? 34Your hands were not tied, your feet were not put in chains of bronze; as one falls before wicked men, so you fell.” And all the people wept over him again. 35Then all the people came to urge David to eat some food while it was still day. But David took an oath: “May God deal with me ever so severely if I taste bread or any other food before sunset!” 36All the people took note of it, and it pleased them, just as everything the king did pleased all the people. 37So all the people and all Israel understood that day that the king had no part in the killing of Abner son of Ner.

38Then the king said to his officials, “Do you not realize that a leader and a great man has fallen in Israel today? 39Today I am weak, even though I am anointed king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me. May the LORD repay the one who does evil as his evil deserves!”