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2 Samuel 3:6-4:3
New American Standard Bible

Abner Joins David

6 Now it happened that while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, (A)Abner was [a]strengthening himself in the house of Saul. 7 And Saul had a concubine whose name was (B)Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and [b]Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” 8 Then Abner became very angry over Ish-bosheth’s [c]question and said, “(C)Am 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 let you fall into the hands of David; yet today you call me to account for wrongdoing with [d]that woman? 9 (D)May God do so to [e]me, and more so, if (E)as the Lord has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for him: 10 (F)to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, (G)from Dan even to Beersheba!” 11 And Ish-bosheth could no longer say a word in response to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers to David at 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 And he said, “Good! I will make a covenant with you, only I require one thing of you, [f]namely, that (H)you shall not see my face unless you (I)first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see [g]me.” 14 So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed (J)for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 Ish-bosheth sent men and [h]had her taken from her husband, from [i]Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 And her husband went with her, weeping as he went, [j]following her as far as (K)Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” So he returned.

17 Now Abner had a [k]consultation with (L)the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you. 18 Now then, do it! For the Lord has spoken regarding David, saying, ‘(M)By the hand of My servant David [l]I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hands of all their enemies.’” 19 Abner also spoke [m]to Benjamin; and in addition Abner went to speak [n]to David in Hebron everything that seemed good to Israel and to (N)the entire house of Benjamin.

20 Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David held a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21 Abner said to David, “Let me set out and go and (O)gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that (P)you may be king over all that your soul desires.” So David let Abner go, and he went in peace.

22 And behold, (Q)the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought a large amount of plunder with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, since he had let him go, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, they informed Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go on his way, 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 let him go, so that he is already gone? 25 You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to gain your confidence, and to learn of (R)your [o]going out and coming in and to find out everything that you are doing.”

Joab Murders Abner

26 When Joab left David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know about 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 (S)he struck him in the belly, so that he died on account of the blood of his brother Asahel. 28 Afterward, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 (T)May it turn upon the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not be eliminated from the house of Joab (U)someone who suffers a discharge, or has leprosy, or [p]holds the spindle, or falls by the sword, or lacks bread.” 30 So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner (V)because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

David Mourns Abner

31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “(W)Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David walked behind the bier. 32 And they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king raised his voice and wept at (X)the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 33 And (Y)the king sang a song of mourning for Abner and said,

“Should Abner die as a fool dies?
34 Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put in bronze shackles;
As one falls before the [q]wicked, you have fallen.”

And all the people wept over him again. 35 Then all the people came (Z)to provide [r]food for David in his distress while it was still day; but David vowed, saying, “(AA)May God do so to me, and more so, if I taste bread or anything else (AB)before the sun goes down.” 36 Now all the people took note of David’s vow, and it [s]pleased them, just as everything that the king did [t]pleased all the people. 37 So all the people and all Israel understood on that day that it had not been the desire 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 leader and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? 39 And I am (AC)weak today, though anointed king; and these men, (AD)the sons of Zeruiah, are too difficult for me. (AE)May the Lord repay the evildoer in proportion to his evil.”

Ish-bosheth Murdered

4 Now when [u]Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, heard that (AF)Abner had died in Hebron, [v](AG)his courage failed, and all Israel was horrified. 2 And Saul’s son had two men who were commanders of troops: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the sons of Benjamin (for (AH)Beeroth is also considered (AI)part of Benjamin, 3 and the Beerothites fled to (AJ)Gittaim and have lived there as strangers until this day).

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 3:6 Or remaining faithful to
  2. 2 Samuel 3:7 As in some mss and ancient versions; MT he
  3. 2 Samuel 3:8 Lit words
  4. 2 Samuel 3:8 Lit the
  5. 2 Samuel 3:9 Lit Abner
  6. 2 Samuel 3:13 Lit saying
  7. 2 Samuel 3:13 Lit my face
  8. 2 Samuel 3:15 Lit took her
  9. 2 Samuel 3:15 In 1 Sam 25:44, Palti
  10. 2 Samuel 3:16 Lit after her
  11. 2 Samuel 3:17 Lit a word
  12. 2 Samuel 3:18 As in many mss and ancient versions; MT he
  13. 2 Samuel 3:19 Lit in the ears of
  14. 2 Samuel 3:19 Lit in the ears of
  15. 2 Samuel 3:25 I.e., daily business
  16. 2 Samuel 3:29 I.e., an effeminate man; LXX holds on to a staff (prob. a crutch)
  17. 2 Samuel 3:34 Lit sons of wickedness
  18. 2 Samuel 3:35 Lit bread
  19. 2 Samuel 3:36 Lit was good in their eyes
  20. 2 Samuel 3:36 Lit was good in the eyes of all
  21. 2 Samuel 4:1 As in some mss; MT he
  22. 2 Samuel 4:1 Lit his hands dropped
Listen to 2 Samuel 3:6-4:3, 2 Samuel 4:5-12
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2 Samuel 3:6-4:3
New International Version

Abner Goes Over to David

6 During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner(A) had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had had a concubine(B) named Rizpah(C) daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”

8 Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. So he answered, “Am I a dog’s head(D)—on Judah’s side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven’t handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman! 9 May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised(E) him on oath 10 and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.”(F) 11 Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, “Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you.”

13 “Good,” said David. “I will make an agreement with you. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me.”(G) 14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, “Give me my wife Michal,(H) whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.”

15 So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband(I) Paltiel(J) son of Laish. 16 Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim.(K) Then Abner said to him, “Go back home!” So he went back.

17 Abner conferred with the elders(L) of Israel and said, “For some time you have wanted to make David your king. 18 Now do it! For the Lord promised David, ‘By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines(M) and from the hand of all their enemies.(N)’”

19 Abner also spoke to the Benjamites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole tribe of Benjamin(O) wanted to do. 20 When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast(P) for him and his men. 21 Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant(Q) with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.”(R) So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

Joab Murders Abner

22 Just then David’s men and Joab returned from a raid and brought with them a great deal of plunder. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the soldiers with him arrived, he was told that Abner son of Ner had come to the king and that the king had sent him away and that he had gone in peace.

24 So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone! 25 You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing.”

26 Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David did not know it. 27 Now when Abner(S) returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him(T) in the stomach, and he died.(U)

28 Later, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent(V) before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29 May his blood(W) fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family!(X) May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sore(Y) or leprosy[a] or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food.”

30 (Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

31 Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth(Z) and walk in mourning(AA) in front of Abner.” King David himself walked behind the bier. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept(AB) aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.

33 The king sang this lament(AC) for Abner:

“Should Abner have died as the lawless die?
34     Your hands were not bound,
    your feet were not fettered.(AD)
You fell as one falls before the wicked.”

And all the people wept over him again.

35 Then they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely,(AE) if I taste bread(AF) or anything else before the sun sets!”

36 All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. 37 So on that day all the people there and all Israel knew that the king had no part(AG) in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

38 Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen(AH) in Israel this day? 39 And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah(AI) are too strong(AJ) for me.(AK) May the Lord repay(AL) the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”

Ish-Bosheth Murdered

4 When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner(AM) had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed. 2 Now Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding bands. One was named Baanah and the other Rekab; they were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite from the tribe of Benjamin—Beeroth(AN) is considered part of Benjamin, 3 because the people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim(AO) and have resided there as foreigners to this day.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 3:29 The Hebrew for leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
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2 Samuel 4:5-12
New American Standard Bible

5 So the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, departed and came to the house of (A)Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day, while he was taking his midday rest. 6 [a]And they came to the interior of the house as if [b]to get wheat, and (B)they struck him in the belly; and Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped. 7 Now when they had come into the house, as he was lying on his bed in his bedroom, they struck him and killed him, and they beheaded him. And they took his head and [c](C)traveled by way of the Arabah all night. 8 Then they brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king, “Behold, the head of Ish-bosheth (D)the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life; so the Lord has given my lord the king vengeance this day on Saul and his [d]descendants.”

9 But David replied to Rechab and his brother Baanah, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “As the Lord lives, (E)who has redeemed my life from all distress, 10 (F)when the one who informed me, saying, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ also [e]viewed himself as the bearer of good news, I seized him and killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. 11 How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now (G)require his blood from your hands and eliminate you both from the earth?” 12 Then (H)David commanded the young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet, and hung them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth (I)and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 4:6 Lit And here they
  2. 2 Samuel 4:6 Lit takers of wheat
  3. 2 Samuel 4:7 Lit went
  4. 2 Samuel 4:8 Lit seed
  5. 2 Samuel 4:10 Lit was as a bearer of good news in his own eyes
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2 Samuel 4:5-12
New International Version

5 Now Rekab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth,(A) and they arrived there in the heat of the day while he was taking his noonday rest.(B) 6 They went into the inner part of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed(C) him in the stomach. Then Rekab and his brother Baanah slipped away.

7 They had gone into the house while he was lying on the bed in his bedroom. After they stabbed and killed him, they cut off his head. Taking it with them, they traveled all night by way of the Arabah.(D) 8 They brought the head(E) of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul,(F) your enemy, who tried to kill you. This day the Lord has avenged(G) my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”

9 David answered Rekab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered(H) me out of every trouble, 10 when someone told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag.(I) That was the reward I gave him for his news! 11 How much more—when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed—should I not now demand his blood(J) from your hand and rid the earth of you!”

12 So David gave an order to his men, and they killed them.(K) They cut off their hands and feet and hung the bodies by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-Bosheth and buried it in Abner’s tomb at Hebron.

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