⁷ Now Saul had had a concubine^(A) named Rizpah^(B) daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”

⁸ But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah,^(A) whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab,^[a] whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.^{(B) 9} He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed them and exposed their bodies on a hill before the Lord. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death^(C) during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.^(D)

¹⁰ Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds touch them by day or the wild animals by night.^{(E) 11} When David was told what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, had done,

²¹ Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.” ²² So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.^(A)

²¹ So she said, “Let Abishag^(A) the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah.”

²² King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag^(B) the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him—after all, he is my older brother^(C)—yes, for him and for Abiathar^(D) the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah!”

¹⁷ So he continued, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag^(A) the Shunammite as my wife.”

⁸ I gave your master’s house to you,^(A) and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more.