David Grows Strong in Hebron
3 1 The war between the house of Saul and the house of David dragged on a long time. David grew steadily stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
2 Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam of Jezreel; 3 his second, Chileab, whose mother was Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; 4 the fourth, Adonijah son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah son of Abital; 5 and the sixth, Ithream, whose mother was David's wife Eglah. These were the sons born to David in Hebron.
Abner Joins David
6 While the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was steadily strengthening his own position in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, "Why have you slept with my father's concubine?"
8 Abner became very angry at Ish-bosheth's words and said, "Am I a dog's head—one loyal to Judah? To this very day I have shown loyalty to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers and his friends, and I have not handed you over to David. Yet now you find fault with me about this woman!" 1 1 v8 'Dog's head' was an ancient insult for a worthless traitor or enemy. 9 May our Father do so to Abner, and more besides, if I do not accomplish for David what our Father has sworn to him— 10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish David's throne over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.
11 And Ish-bosheth could not say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.
12 Then Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, "To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you."
13 David said, "Good; I will make a covenant with you. But I require one thing of you: you will not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see me."
14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins."
15 So Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish. 16 But her husband went with her, weeping as he followed her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go back home." So he returned.
17 Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, "For some time now you have wanted David as king over you. 18 Now act, for our Father has promised 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 Abner also spoke directly to Benjamin, and then went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin had agreed to do.
20 When Abner came to David at Hebron with twenty men, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21 Abner said to David, "Let me go and gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you and you may reign over all that your heart desires." So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
Joab Murders Abner
22 Just then David's servants and Joab returned from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. But Abner was no longer with David at Hebron, for David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.
23 When Joab and all the army with him arrived, Joab was told, "Abner son of Ner came to the king, and the king has sent him away, and he has gone in peace."
24 So Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Look—Abner came to you. Why did you send him away, so that he is gone? 25 You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you, to learn your comings and goings, and to find out everything you are doing."
26 When Joab left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David knew nothing about it. 27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the gateway as if to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, and he died—in revenge for the death of Joab's brother Asahel.
28 Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before our Father for the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29 May it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father's house! May the house of Joab never be without someone with a discharge or skin disease, a man who leans on a crutch or falls by the sword or goes hungry.
30 So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.
David Mourns for Abner
31 Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, "Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner." And King David himself walked behind the body.
32 They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner's grave, and all the people wept.
33 The king sang this lament for Abner: "Should Abner have died as a fool dies? 34 Your hands were not bound, your feet not set in chains. You fell as one falls before the wicked." And all the people wept over him again.
35 Then all the people came to urge David to eat something while it was still day, but David swore an oath: "May our Father do so to me, and more besides, if I eat bread or anything else before the sun goes down!"
36 All the people took note of it and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased all the people. 37 So that day all the people, and all Israel, understood that it had not been the king's will to put Abner son of Ner to death.
38 The king said to his servants, "Do you not realize that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39 And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me. May our Father repay the evildoer according to his evil."