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2 Samuel 3
- 1
- Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the
house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul
waxed weaker and weaker.
- 2
- And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his
firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
- 3
- And 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;
- 4
- And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the
fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
- 5
- And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These
were born to David in Hebron.
- 6
- And it came to pass, while there was war between the
house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the
house of Saul.
- 7
- And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the
daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in
unto my father's concubine?
- 8
- Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth,
and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day
unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and
have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day
with a fault concerning this woman?
- 9
- So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD
hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;
- 10
- To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to
set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to
Beersheba.
- 11
- And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he
feared him.
- 12
- And 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.
- 13
- And 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.
- 14
- And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son,
saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred
foreskins of the Philistines.
- 15
- And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even
from Phaltiel the son of Laish.
- 16
- And her husband went with her along weeping behind her
to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.
- 17
- And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel,
saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:
- 18
- Now then do it: for the LORD 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.
- 19
- And 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 that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.
- 20
- So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with
him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.
- 21
- And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will
gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with
thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David
sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
- 22
- And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from
pursuing a troop, 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.
- 23
- When 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.
- 24
- Then 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?
- 25
- Thou 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.
- 26
- And when Joab was come out from David, he sent
messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but
David knew it not.
- 27
- And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him
aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the
fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
- 28
- And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my
kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son
of Ner:
- 29
- Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on 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 on the sword,
or that lacketh bread.
- 30
- So Joab, and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he
had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
- 31
- And 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 himself followed the bier.
- 32
- And 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
- And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner
as a fool dieth?
- 34
- Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters:
as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept
again over him.
- 35
- And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat
while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if
I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
- 36
- And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased
them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.
- 37
- For all the people and all Israel understood that day
that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.
- 38
- And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that
there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
- 39
- And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these
men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of
evil according to his wickedness.
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