2 Samuel 3:17-21

Expanded Bible

¹⁷ Abner ·sent this message to [consulted/conferred with] the elders of Israel: “[^LFor some time now] You have been wanting to make David your king. ¹⁸ Now do it! The Lord said of David, ‘·Through [^LBy the hand of] my servant David, I will ·save [rescue; ^Tdeliver] my people Israel from the [^Lhand of the] Philistines and all their enemies.’”

¹⁹ Abner also said these things to the people of Benjamin. He then went to Hebron to tell David what the Benjaminites and Israel ·wanted [agreed] to do. ²⁰ Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron. There David prepared a ·feast [banquet] for them. ²¹ Abner said to David, “·I will [Let me] go and ·bring all the Israelites [^Lgather all Israel] to my ·master [lord] and king. Then they will make an ·agreement [treaty; covenant] with you so you will rule over all ·Israel as you wanted [^Lthat your soul desires].” So David let Abner go, and he left in peace.