1 Now A1 Kin 14:30; Ps 46:9there 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 A1 Chr 3:1-3Sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by B1 Sam 25:42, 43Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 and his second, Chileab, by Abigail the 1Lit wifewidow of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of A1 Sam 27:8; 1 Chr 3:2Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of B2 Sam 14:32; 15:8Geshur; 4 and the fourth, A1 Kin 1:5Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5 and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David at Hebron.

6 It came about while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David that A2 Sam 2:8, 9Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had a concubine whose name was A2 Sam 21:8-11Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and 1So some ancient mss and versions; M.T. heIsh-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” 8 Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “A1 Sam 24:14; 2 Sam 9:8Am 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  “A1 Kin 19:2May God do so to Abner, and more also, if B1 Sam 15:28as the Loʀᴅ has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for him, 10 A1 Sam 15:28to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, B1 Sam 3:20from Dan even to Beersheba.” 11 And he could no longer answer Abner a word, because he was afraid of him.

12 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 He said, “Good! I will make a covenant with you, but I demand one thing of you, 1Lit sayingnamely, AGen 43:3you shall not see my face unless you B1 Sam 18:20; 19:11first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see 2Lit my faceme.” 14 So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed A1 Sam 18:25, 27for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from 1In 1 Sam 25:44, PaltiPaltiel the son of Laish. 16 But her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her as far as A2 Sam 16:5; 19:16Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” So he returned.

17 Now Abner had 1Lit a wordconsultation with A1 Sam 8:4the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you. 18  “Now then, do it! For the Loʀᴅ has spoken of David, saying, ‘A1 Sam 9:16; 15:28By the hand of My servant David 1So many ancient mss and versions; M.T. heI will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’ ” 19 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 A1 Sam 10:20, 21; 1 Chr 12:29the whole house of Benjamin.

20 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 Abner said to David, “Let me arise and go and A2 Sam 3:10, 12gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that B1 Kin 11:37you may be king over all that your soul desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

22 And behold, A1 Sam 27:8the 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 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 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  “You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you and to learn of ADeut 28:6; 1 Sam 29:6; Is 37:28your going out and coming in and to find out all that you are doing.”

26 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 So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there A2 Sam 2:23; 20:9, 10; 1 Kin 2:5he struck him in the belly so that he died on account of the blood of Asahel his brother. 28 Afterward when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before the Loʀᴅ forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29  “ADeut 21:6-9; 1 Kin 2:31-33May it 1Lit whirlfall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not fail from the house of Joab BLev 13:46one 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 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner A2 Sam 2:23because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “AGen 37:34; Judg 11:35Tear your clothes and gird on sackcloth and lament before Abner.” And King David walked behind the bier. 32 Thus they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at AJob 31:28, 29; Prov 24:17the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 33 A2 Sam 1:17; 2 Chr 35:25The king chanted a lament for Abner and said,

And all the people wept again over him. 35 Then all the people came A2 Sam 12:17to 1Lit causepersuade David to eat bread while it was still day; but David vowed, saying, “B1 Sam 3:17May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else C2 Sam 1:12before the sun goes down.” 36 Now all the people took note of it, and it 1Lit was good in their eyespleased them, just as everything the king did 2Lit was good in the eyes of allpleased all the people. 37 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 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  “I am A1 Chr 29:1; 2 Chr 13:7weak today, though anointed king; and these men B2 Sam 19:5-7the sons of Zeruiah are too difficult for me. C1 Kin 2:32-34May the Loʀᴅ repay the evildoer according to his evil.”