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2 Samuel 3
Lexham English Bible

The House of David Grows Stronger

3 The battle was prolonged between the house of Saul and the house of David, but David was growing stronger and stronger[a] while the house of Saul was becoming weaker and weaker.[b] 2 And sons were born to David in Hebron; his firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam from Jezreel[c]. 3 His second was Kileab by Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; the third was Absalom the son of Maacah, who was the daughter of Talmai the king of Geshur. 4 The fourth was Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth was Shephatiah the son of Abital. 5 The sixth was Ithream by Eglah the wife of David. These were born to David in Hebron.

6 As the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was continuing, Abner was strengthening himself in the house of Saul. 7 Saul had had a concubine, and her name was Rizpah the daughter of Aiah. Then Ish-Bosheth[d] said to Abner, “Why did you have sex with[e] my father’s concubine?” 8 Abner became very angry[f] at the words of Ish-Bosheth, and he said, “Am I the head of a dog which is for Judah today? Do I not continue to show loyal love with the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends? I have not let you fall into the hands of David, yet you have accused me of sin with this woman[g] today. 9 Thus may God punish Abner,[h] if I do not accomplish what Yahweh has sworn to David;[i] 10 specifically, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah from Dan to Beersheba!” 11 And Ish-Bosheth was no longer able to answer[j] Abner because he feared him.[k]

Abner Pledges Support for David

12 Abner sent messengers to David where he was,[l] saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me![m] Look, my hand is with you to bring all of Israel over to you!” 13 He[n] said, “Good. I will make a covenant with you.[o] I am asking only one thing from you: You shall not see my face unless you bring Michal the daughter of Saul when you come to see me.”[p] 14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth the son of Saul, saying, “Give me my wife Michal whom I betrothed to myself[q] for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 So Ish-Bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish.[r] 16 But her husband went with her, weeping all along[s] after her as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go and return.” So he returned.

17 The word of Abner came to[t] the elders of Israel, saying, “For quite some time[u] you were seeking David as king over you. 18 So then, bring it about, because Yahweh had said to David, “Through the hand of David my servant I am about to save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.” 19 Abner also spoke privately to Benjamin.[v] Abner also went to speak to David[w] in Hebron, all that was good in the eyes of Israel and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin.

20 Then Abner came to David in Hebron and with him were twenty men. David had prepared a feast for Abner and for the men who were with him. 21 And Abner said to David, “Let me get up and go and gather all of Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant[x] with you so you can reign over all which your soul desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he left in peace. 22 And look, the servants of David and Joab came from the raid, and they brought much plunder with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he[y] had dismissed him, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the army that was with him came, they told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he left in peace.”

Joab Assassinates Abner

24 Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner came here to you? Why have you dismissed him that he actually went away?[z] 25 You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you. He came to learn about your going out and coming in and to know all which you are doing.” 26 Then Joab went out from David, and he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from Bor Hasirah, but David did not know it.

27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to the middle of the gate to speak with him in private. Then he struck him in the stomach there and he died, for he had shed the blood of Asahel his brother.[aa] 28 When David heard this afterwards, he said: “I and my kingdom are innocent before Yahweh[ab] forever for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 May the blood come down on the head of Joab and all the house of his father. May the house of Joab never lack[ac] one with a bodily discharge or one with leprosy or one who grasps the distaff or one who falls by the sword or one who is lacking food.”

30 So Joab and Abishai, his brother, killed Abner because he had killed Asahel, their brother, at Gibeon in the battle. 31 David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothing and put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner.” Now King David was following after the bier. 32 And they buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 33 The king sang a lament for Abner and said, “Should Abner have died the death of a fool? 34 Your hands were not tied and your feet were not in contact with bronze fetters. You have fallen as one who falls before sons of wickedness.” Then all the people wept over him again.[ad] 35 Then all the people came to give David food. Still on that day, David swore, “May God punish me[ae] if I taste food or anything before the sun goes down.” 36 All the people noticed, and it was good in their eyes, as everything that the king did was good in the eyes of all the people. 37 Then all the people and all of Israel realized on that day that the king had not desired[af] to kill Abner the son of Ner. 38 Then the king said to his servants, “Did you not realize that a prince and a great man has fallen today in Israel? 39 I am weak today even though anointed king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are crueler than I am. May Yahweh pay them back for doing wickedness according to their own wickedness.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 3:1 Literally “was going and strong”
  2. 2 Samuel 3:1 Literally “was going and weak”
  3. 2 Samuel 3:2 Literally “the Jezreelitess”
  4. 2 Samuel 3:7 Supported by some Hebrew and Greek manuscripts
  5. 2 Samuel 3:7 Literally “have you gone into”
  6. 2 Samuel 3:8 Literally “And it became hot for Abner very”
  7. 2 Samuel 3:8 Literally “you have called me into account with the guilt of the woman”
  8. 2 Samuel 3:9 Literally “may God do to Abner, and thus may he add to it”
  9. 2 Samuel 3:9 Literally “for as that Yahweh has sworn to David, so I will accomplish for him”
  10. 2 Samuel 3:11 Literally “return a word to”
  11. 2 Samuel 3:11 Literally “because of his fearing him”
  12. 2 Samuel 3:12 Literally “under him”
  13. 2 Samuel 3:12 Literally “cut your covenant with me”
  14. 2 Samuel 3:13 David
  15. 2 Samuel 3:13 Literally “I will cut a covenant with you”
  16. 2 Samuel 3:13 Literally “my face”
  17. 2 Samuel 3:14 Hebrew “me”
  18. 2 Samuel 3:15 The Hebrew Masoretic text (Kethib) reads “Lush”; Qere reads “Laish”
  19. 2 Samuel 3:16 Literally “going and weeping”
  20. 2 Samuel 3:17 Literally “was with”
  21. 2 Samuel 3:17 Literally “Both yesterday and the day before”
  22. 2 Samuel 3:19 Literally “in the ears of Benjamin”
  23. 2 Samuel 3:19 Literally “to speak in the ears of David”
  24. 2 Samuel 3:21 Literally “cut a covenant”
  25. 2 Samuel 3:22 David
  26. 2 Samuel 3:24 Literally “and he went going”
  27. 2 Samuel 3:27 Literally “for the blood of Asahel his brother.” See Num 35:16–25
  28. 2 Samuel 3:28 Literally “from with Yahweh”
  29. 2 Samuel 3:29 Literally “May there not be cut off from the house of Joab”
  30. 2 Samuel 3:34 Literally “and all the people did again to weep over him”
  31. 2 Samuel 3:35 Literally “Thus may God do to me and thus may he add”
  32. 2 Samuel 3:37 Literally “that it was not from the king”
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2 Samuel 3
English Standard Version

Abner Joins David

3 There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.

2 (A)And sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of (B)Ahinoam of Jezreel; 3 and his second, Chileab, of (C)Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah (D)the daughter of Talmai king of (E)Geshur; 4 and the fourth, (F)Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5 and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6 While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had a concubine whose name was (G)Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, (H)“Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?” 8 Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “Am I (I)a dog's head of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman. 9 (J)God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David (K)what the Lord has sworn to him, 10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, (L)from Dan to Beersheba.” 11 And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf,[a] saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you.” 13 And he said, “Good; I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you; that is, (M)you shall not see my face unless you first bring (N)Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face.” 14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, (O)for whom I paid the bridal price of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to (P)Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned.

17 And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you. 18 Now then bring it about, (Q)for the Lord 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 to (R)Benjamin. And then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do.

20 When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21 And Abner said to David, “I will arise and go and (S)will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may (T)reign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

22 Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace.” 24 Then Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone? 25 You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you and to know (U)your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

Joab Murders Abner

26 When Joab came out from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it. 27 And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, (V)and there he struck him (W)in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28 Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 (X)May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house, and may the house of Joab never be without (Y)one who has a discharge or who is (Z)leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!” 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because (AA)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, (AB)“Tear your clothes and (AC)put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner.” And King David followed the bier. 32 They buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 33 And the king (AD)lamented for Abner, saying,

(AE)“Should Abner die (AF)as a fool dies?
34 Your hands were not bound;
    your feet were not fettered;
as one falls before the wicked
    you have fallen.”

And all the people wept again over him. 35 Then all the people came (AG)to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, (AH)“God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else (AI)till the sun goes down!” 36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people. 37 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king's will to put to death Abner the son of Ner. 38 And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39 And I was gentle today, though anointed king. (AJ)These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. (AK)The Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 3:12 Or where he was; Septuagint at Hebron
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