1 N ow there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David waxed stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David grew steadily stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker continually.

2 A nd unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his first-born was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

Sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

3 a nd his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

and his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;

4 a nd the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5 a nd the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David at Hebron. Abner Joins David

6 A nd it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul.

It came about while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David that Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.

7 N ow Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?

Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”

8 T hen was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head that belongeth to Judah? This day do I show kindness unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David; and yet thou chargest me this day with a fault concerning this woman.

Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “ Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hands of David; and yet today you charge me with a guilt concerning the woman.

9 G od do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Jehovah hath sworn to David, I do not even so to him;

May God do so to Abner, and more also, if as the Lord has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for him,

10 t o transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba.

to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.”

11 A nd he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

And he could no longer answer Abner a word, because he was afraid of him.

12 A nd Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.

Then Abner sent messengers to David in his place, saying, “Whose is the land? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”

13 A nd he said, Well; I will make a league with thee; but one thing I require of thee: that is, thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

He said, “Good! I will make a covenant with you, but I demand one thing of you, namely, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see me.”

14 A nd David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”

15 A nd Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish.

Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish.

16 A nd her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return: and he returned.

But her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” So he returned.

17 A nd Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, In times past ye sought for David to be king over you:

Now Abner had consultation with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you.

18 n ow then do it; for Jehovah hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

Now then, do it! For the Lord has spoken of David, saying, ‘ By the hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’”

19 A nd Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to the whole house of Benjamin.

Abner also spoke in the hearing of Benjamin; and in addition Abner went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.

20 S o Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.

Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.

21 A nd Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thy soul desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

Abner said to David, “Let me arise and go and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may be king over all that your soul desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

22 A nd, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a foray, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.

And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much spoil with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

23 W hen Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace.”

24 T hen Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?

Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why then have you sent him away and he is already gone?

25 T hou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you and to learn of your going out and coming in and to find out all that you are doing.” Joab Murders Abner

26 A nd when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.

When Joab came out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know it.

27 A nd when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the belly so that he died on account of the blood of Asahel his brother.

28 A nd afterward, when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before Jehovah for ever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

Afterward when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.

29 l et it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth by the sword, or that lacketh bread.

May it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who takes hold of a distaff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”

30 S o Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon. David Mourns Abner

31 A nd David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David followed the bier.

Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “ Tear your clothes and gird on sackcloth and lament before Abner.” And King David walked behind the bier.

32 A nd they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

Thus they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.

33 A nd the king lamented for Abner, and said, Should Abner die as a fool dieth?

The king chanted a lament for Abner and said, “Should Abner die as a fool dies?

34 T hy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: As a man falleth before the children of iniquity, so didst thou fall. And all the people wept again over him.

“Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put in fetters; As one falls before the wicked, you have fallen.” And all the people wept again over him.

35 A nd all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David sware, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or aught else, till the sun be down.

Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was still day; but David vowed, saying, “ May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down.”

36 A nd all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, just as everything the king did pleased all the people.

37 S o all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the will of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death.

38 A nd the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?

39 A nd I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me: Jehovah reward the evil-doer according to his wickedness.

I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too difficult for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil.”