2 Samuel 3:6-16

English Standard Version

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 ^(A)Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, ^(B)“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 ^(C)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 (D)God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David ^(E)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, ^(F)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, ^(G)you shall not see my face unless you first bring ^(H)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, ^(I)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 ^(J)Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned.