1 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of
David: and David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul grew
weaker and weaker. 2 To 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, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
6 It happened, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house
of David, that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul. 7 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 Then was Abner very angry for the words of Ish-bosheth, and
said, Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? This day do I show kindness to
the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have
not delivered you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me this day with
a fault concerning this woman. 9 God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as
Yahweh has sworn to David, I don’t do even so to him; 10 to 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 Beersheba. 11 He could not answer Abner
another word, because he feared him. 12 Abner sent messengers to David on
his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make your league
with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with you, to bring about all Israel to
you. 13 He said, Well; I will make a league with you; but one thing I
require of you: that is, you shall not see my face, except you first bring
Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face. 14 David sent
messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal,
whom I pledged to be married to me for one hundred foreskins of the
Philistines. 15 Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from
Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 Her husband went with her, weeping as he
went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then said Abner to him, Go, return: and he
returned. 17 Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, In
times past you sought for David to be king over you: 18 now then do
it; for Yahweh has 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 Abner also spoke 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. 20 So Abner came to
David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who
were with him a feast. 21 Abner said to David, I will arise and go, and
will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant
with you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires. David sent
Abner away; and he went in peace. 22 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.
23 When Joab and all the host who was with him had come, they told Joab,
saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and
he is gone in peace. 24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What have
you done? behold, Abner came to you; why is it that you have sent him away,
and he is quite gone? 25 You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to
deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all
that you do. 26 When Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers
after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah: but David
didn’t know it. 27 When Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside
into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in
the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28 Afterward, when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless
before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner: 29 let it fall
on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail
from the house of Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans
on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread. 30 So Joab and
Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel
at Gibeon in the battle. 31 David said to Joab, and to all the people who
were with him, Tear your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn
before Abner. King David followed the bier. 32 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 The king lamented for Abner, and said,
Should Abner die as a fool dies?
34 Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters:
As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so did you fall.
All the people wept again over him. 35 All the people came to cause David
to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, God do so to me,
and more also, if I taste bread, or anything else, until the sun be down.
36 All the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as whatever the
king did pleased all the people. 37 So all the people and all Israel
understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner.
38 The king said to his servants, “Don’t you know that there a prince
and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39 I am this day weak,
though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me.
May Yahweh reward the evil-doer according to his wickedness.”
World English Bible - Public Domain |
|
|