¹ H752 Now there was long H4421 war H1004 between the house H7586 of Saul H1004 and the house H1732 of David H1732 : but David H1980 waxed [H8802]   H2390 stronger H2390 and stronger H1004 , and the house H7586 of Saul H1980 waxed [H8802]   H1800 weaker H1800 and weaker.

² H1732 And unto David H1121 were sons H3205 born [H8735]   [H8675]   H3205   [H8795]   H2275 in Hebron H1060 : and his firstborn H550 was Amnon H293 , of Ahinoam H3159 the Jezreelitess;

³ H4932 And his second H3609 , Chileab H26 , of Abigail H802 the wife H5037 of Nabal H3761 the Carmelite H7992 ; and the third H53 , Absalom H1121 the son H4601 of Maacah H1323 the daughter H8526 of Talmai H4428 king H1650 of Geshur;

⁴ H7243 And the fourth H138 , Adonijah H1121 the son H2294 of Haggith H2549 ; and the fifth H8203 , Shephatiah H1121 the son H37 of Abital;

⁵ H8345 And the sixth H3507 , Ithream H5698 , by Eglah H1732 David's H802 wife H3205 . These were born [H8795]   H1732 to David H2275 in Hebron.

⁶ H4421 And it came to pass, while there was war H1004 between the house H7586 of Saul H1004 and the house H1732 of David H74 , that Abner H2388 made himself strong [H8693]   H1004 for the house H7586 of Saul.

⁷ H7586 And Saul H6370 had a concubine H8034 , whose name H7532 was Rizpah H1323 , the daughter H345 of Aiah H559 : and Ishbosheth said [H8799]   H74 to Abner H935 , Wherefore hast thou gone in [H8804]   H1 unto my father's H6370 concubine?

⁸ H74 Then was Abner H3966 very H2734 wroth [H8799]   H1697 for the words H378 of Ishbosheth H559 , and said [H8799]   H3611 , Am I a dog's H7218 head H3063 , which against Judah H6213 do shew [H8799]   H2617 kindness H3117 this day H1004 unto the house H7586 of Saul H1 thy father H251 , to his brethren H4828 , and to his friends H4672 , and have not delivered [H8689]   H3027 thee into the hand H1732 of David H6485 , that thou chargest [H8799]   H3117 me to day H5771 with a fault H802 concerning this woman?

⁹ H6213 So do [H8799]   H430 God H74 to Abner H3254 , and more also [H8686]   H3068 , except, as the LORD H7650 hath sworn [H8738]   H1732 to David H6213 , even so I do [H8799]   to him;

¹⁰ H5674 To translate [H8687]   H4467 the kingdom H1004 from the house H7586 of Saul H6965 , and to set up [H8687]   H3678 the throne H1732 of David H3478 over Israel H3063 and over Judah H1835 , from Dan H884 even to Beersheba.

¹¹ H3201 And he could [H8804]   H7725 not answer [H8687]   H74 Abner H1697 a word H3372 again, because he feared [H8800]   him.

¹² H74 And Abner H7971 sent [H8799]   H4397 messengers H1732 to David H559 on his behalf, saying [H8800]   H776 , Whose is the land H559 ? saying [H8800]   H3772 also, Make [H8798]   H1285 thy league H3027 with me, and, behold, my hand H5437 shall be with thee, to bring about [H8687]   H3478 all Israel unto thee.

¹³ H559 And he said [H8799]   H2896 , Well H3772 ; I will make [H8799]   H1285 a league H259 with thee: but one H1697 thing H7592 I require [H8802]   H559 of thee, that is [H8800]   H7200 , Thou shalt not see [H8799]   H6440 my face H6440 , except thou first H935 bring [H8687]   H4324 Michal H7586 Saul's H1323 daughter H935 , when thou comest [H8800]   H7200 to see [H8800]   H6440 my face.

¹⁴ H1732 And David H7971 sent [H8799]   H4397 messengers H378 to Ishbosheth H7586 Saul's H1121 son H559 , saying [H8800]   H5414 , Deliver [H8798]   H802 me my wife H4324 Michal H781 , which I espoused [H8765]   H3967 to me for an hundred H6190 foreskins H6430 of the Philistines.

¹⁵ H378 And Ishbosheth H7971 sent [H8799]   H3947 , and took [H8799]   H376 her from her husband H6409 , even from Phaltiel H1121 the son H3889 of Laish [H8675]   H3919  .

¹⁶ H376 And her husband H3212 went [H8799]   H1980 with her along weeping [H8800]   H1058   [H8800]   H310 behind H980 her to Bahurim H559 . Then said [H8799]   H74 Abner H3212 unto him, Go [H8798]   H7725 , return [H8798]   H7725 . And he returned [H8799]  .

¹⁷ H74 And Abner H1961 had communication [H8804]   H1697   H2205 with the elders H3478 of Israel H559 , saying [H8800]   H1245 , Ye sought [H8764]   H1732 for David H8543 in times H8032 past H4428 to be king over you:

¹⁸ H6213 Now then do [H8798]   H3068 it : for the LORD H559 hath spoken [H8804]   H1732 of David H559 , saying [H8800]   H3027 , By the hand H5650 of my servant H1732 David H3467 I will save [H8687]   H5971 my people H3478 Israel H3027 out of the hand H6430 of the Philistines H3027 , and out of the hand H341 of all their enemies [H8802]  .

¹⁹ H74 And Abner H1696 also spake [H8762]   H241 in the ears H1144 of Benjamin H74 : and Abner H3212 went [H8799]   H1696 also to speak [H8763]   H241 in the ears H1732 of David H2275 in Hebron H5869 all that seemed H2896 good H3478 to Israel H5869 , and that seemed good H1004 to the whole house H1144 of Benjamin.

²⁰ H74 So Abner H935 came [H8799]   H1732 to David H2275 to Hebron H6242 , and twenty H582 men H1732 with him. And David H6213 made [H8799]   H74 Abner H582 and the men H4960 that were with him a feast.

²¹ H74 And Abner H559 said [H8799]   H1732 unto David H6965 , I will arise [H8799]   H3212 and go [H8799]   H6908 , and will gather [H8799]   H3478 all Israel H113 unto my lord H4428 the king H3772 , that they may make [H8799]   H1285 a league H4427 with thee, and that thou mayest reign [H8804]   H5315 over all that thine heart H183 desireth [H8762]   H1732 . And David H7971 sent H74 Abner H7971 away [H8762]   H3212 ; and he went [H8799]   H7965 in peace.

²² H5650 And, behold, the servants H1732 of David H3097 and Joab H935 came [H8802]   H1416 from pursuing a troop H935 , and brought in [H8689]   H7227 a great H7998 spoil H74 with them: but Abner H1732 was not with David H2275 in Hebron H7971 ; for he had sent him away [H8765]   H3212 , and he was gone [H8799]   H7965 in peace.

²³ H3097 When Joab H6635 and all the host H935 that was with him were come [H8804]   H5046 , they told [H8686]   H3097 Joab H559 , saying [H8800]   H74 , Abner H1121 the son H5369 of Ner H935 came [H8804]   H4428 to the king H7971 , and he hath sent him away [H8762]   H3212 , and he is gone [H8799]   H7965 in peace.

²⁴ H3097 Then Joab H935 came [H8799]   H4428 to the king H559 , and said [H8799]   H6213 , What hast thou done [H8804]   H74 ? behold, Abner H935 came [H8802]   H7971 unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away [H8765]   H1980 , and he is quite [H8800]   H3212 gone [H8799]  ?

²⁵ H3045 Thou knowest [H8804]   H74 Abner H1121 the son H5369 of Ner H935 , that he came [H8804]   H6601 to deceive [H8763]   H3045 thee, and to know [H8800]   H4161 thy going out H4126 and thy coming in [H8675]   H3996   H3045 , and to know [H8800]   H6213 all that thou doest [H8802]  .

²⁶ H3097 And when Joab H3318 was come out [H8799]   H1732 from David H7971 , he sent [H8799]   H4397 messengers H310 after H74 Abner H7725 , which brought him again [H8686]   H953 from the well H5626 of Sirah H1732 : but David H3045 knew [H8804]   it not.

²⁷ H74 And when Abner H7725 was returned [H8799]   H2275 to Hebron H3097 , Joab H5186 took him aside [H8686]   H413 in H8432   H8179 the gate H1696 to speak [H8763]   H7987 with him quietly H5221 , and smote [H8686]   H2570 him there under the fifth H4191 rib, that he died [H8799]   H1818 , for the blood H6214 of Asahel H251 his brother.

²⁸ H310 And afterward H1732 when David H8085 heard [H8799]   H559 it, he said [H8799]   H4467 , I and my kingdom H5355 are guiltless H3068 before the LORD H5704 for H5769 ever H1818 from the blood H74 of Abner H1121 the son H5369 of Ner:

²⁹ H2342 Let it rest [H8799]   H7218 on the head H3097 of Joab H1 , and on all his father's H1004 house H3772 ; and let there not fail [H8735]   H1004 from the house H3097 of Joab H2100 one that hath an issue [H8802]   H6879 , or that is a leper [H8794]   H2388 , or that leaneth [H8688]   H6418 on a staff H5307 , or that falleth [H8802]   H2719 on the sword H2638 , or that lacketh H3899 bread.

³⁰ H3097 So Joab H52 and Abishai H251 his brother H2026 slew [H8804]   H74 Abner H4191 , because he had slain [H8689]   H251 their brother H6214 Asahel H1391 at Gibeon H4421 in the battle.

³¹ H1732 And David H559 said [H8799]   H3097 to Joab H5971 , and to all the people H7167 that were with him, Rend [H8798]   H899 your clothes H2296 , and gird [H8798]   H8242 you with sackcloth H5594 , and mourn [H8798]   H6440 before H74 Abner H4428 . And king H1732 David H1980 himself followed [H8802]   H310   H4296 the bier.

³² H6912 And they buried [H8799]   H74 Abner H2275 in Hebron H4428 : and the king H5375 lifted up [H8799]   H6963 his voice H1058 , and wept [H8799]   H6913 at the grave H74 of Abner H5971 ; and all the people H1058 wept [H8799]  .

³³ H4428 And the king H6969 lamented [H8787]   H74 over Abner H559 , and said [H8799]   H4191 , Died [H8799]   H74 Abner H5036 as a fool H4194 dieth?

³⁴ H3027 Thy hands H631 were not bound [H8803]   H7272 , nor thy feet H5066 put [H8717]   H5178 into fetters H5307 : as a man falleth [H8800]   H6440 before H5766 wicked H1121 men H5307 , so fellest [H8804]   H5971 thou. And all the people H1058 wept [H8800]   H3254 again [H8686]   over him.

³⁵ H3605 And when all H5971 the people H935 came [H8799]   H1262 to cause H1732 David H1262 to eat [H8687]   H3899 meat H5750 while it was yet H3117 day H1732 , David H7650 sware [H8735]   H559 , saying [H8800]   H6213 , So do [H8799]   H430 God H3254 to me, and more also [H8686]   H2938 , if I taste [H8799]   H3899 bread H3972 , or ought H6440 else, till H8121 the sun H935 be down [H8800]  .

³⁶ H5971 And all the people H5234 took notice [H8689]   H3190 of it, and it pleased [H8799]   H5869   H4428 them: as whatsoever the king H6213 did [H8804]   H5869 pleased H2896   H5971 all the people.

³⁷ H5971 For all the people H3478 and all Israel H3045 understood [H8799]   H3117 that day H4428 that it was not of the king H4191 to slay [H8687]   H74 Abner H1121 the son H5369 of Ner.

³⁸ H4428 And the king H559 said [H8799]   H5650 unto his servants H3045 , Know [H8799]   H8269 ye not that there is a prince H1419 and a great man H5307 fallen [H8804]   H3117 this day H3478 in Israel?

³⁹ H3117 And I am this day H7390 weak H4886 , though anointed [H8803]   H4428 king H582 ; and these men H1121 the sons H6870 of Zeruiah H7186 be too hard H3068 for me: the LORD H7999 shall reward [H8762]   H6213 the doer of evil [H8802]   H7451 according to his wickedness.