2 Samuel 3
EasyEnglish Bible
David's sons
3 David's men continued to fight against the men who were faithful to Saul's family. The war continued for a long time. David's army became stronger and stronger, but Saul's army became weaker and weaker.
2 While David lived in Hebron he had several sons:
The firstborn was Amnon. Ahinoam from Jezreel gave birth to him.
3 The second son was Kileab. Nabal's widow, Abigail, from Carmel gave birth to him.
The third son was Absalom. His mother was Maakah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.
4 The fourth son was Adonijah. His mother was Haggith.
The fifth son was Shephatiah. Abital was his mother.
5 The sixth son was Ithream. David's wife, Eglah, gave birth to him.
These sons of David were all born in Hebron.
Abner joins David's army
6 The war continued between David's men and the men who fought on behalf of Saul's family. Abner was becoming a more powerful leader among Saul's group. 7 Saul had had slave wife called Rizpah. She was Aiah's daughter. One day, Ish-Bosheth asked Abner, ‘Why did you sleep with my father's woman?’[a]
8 Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth had said to him. Abner said, ‘Do you think that I am a useless dog that belongs to Judah? I have always been faithful to your father Saul and to his family and his friends. I have not deceived you to put you under David's power. But now you say that I am guilty of a sin with this woman. 9 So I promise you this! Now I will help David to get what the Lord has promised to him. I ask God to punish me if I do not help David! 10 The Lord promised that David's family would rule as kings instead of Saul's family. He promised that David would be king over all the people of Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.’[b]
11 Ish-Bosheth was so afraid of Abner that he could not say anything.
12 Then Abner sent men to David with this message: ‘Who should rule this country? If you make an agreement with me, I will help you. I will cause all Israel's people to be faithful to you.’
13 David said, ‘That is good! I will make an agreement with you. But you must do this for me: You must bring Saul's daughter, Michal, with you when you come to visit me. If you do not do that, I will not agree to see you.’
14 Then David sent men to Saul's son, Ish-Bosheth, with this message: ‘Give back to me my wife, Michal. I paid 100 Philistine foreskins to have her as my wife.’
15 So Ish-Bosheth sent his men to take Michal from her husband, Paltiel, son of Laish. 16 But her husband came with her. He wept while he followed her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, ‘Return to your home!’ So he returned home.
17 Then Abner talked to the leaders of Israel. He said, ‘For a long time you have wanted David to be your king. 18 So now is your chance to do something! Remember that the Lord promised, “I will use David's strength to save my people, Israel, from the Philistines and from all their enemies.” ’
19 Abner also went himself to speak to the men of Benjamin's tribe.[c] After that, he went to Hebron. He went to tell David what all Israel's people had agreed to do. All the people of Benjamin's tribe had also agreed the same thing. 20 Abner arrived in Hebron with 20 of his men to visit David. David prepared a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21 Then Abner said to David, ‘Please let me go now to bring all the people of Israel together for my lord the king. Then they will make an agreement with you. Then you will rule over the whole land, as you really want to do.’ So David sent Abner away, with a promise that he would be safe.
Joab murders Abner
22 David's men and Joab had attacked some of the enemy's towns. Now they were returning home. They brought with them a lot of things that they had taken from the enemy. By this time Abner had left Hebron because David had sent him away safely. 23 When Joab and all his soldiers arrived in Hebron, people told him, ‘Ner's son Abner came to visit the king. The king sent him back home safely.’
24 Joab went to the king. He said, ‘Why did you do this? Abner came to visit you. You allowed him to go back home safely. Now he has gone. 25 You should know what Abner is like. He came here to deceive you. He wanted to find out everything that you do and everywhere that you go.’
26 Then Joab left David. He sent men to run after Abner with a message. They found him at the well at Sirah and they brought him back to Hebron. But David did not know that. 27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab met him at the city's gate. Then Joab took him into a corner, as if he wanted to speak with Abner alone. But he pushed his knife into Abner's stomach. Joab killed Abner because Abner had killed Asahel, Joab's brother.
28 Later, David heard about what Joab had done. He said, ‘The Lord knows this: I and the people of my kingdom are not guilty of Abner's murder. 29 I pray that Joab and all his father's family will pay for this murder! May God punish his descendants for ever! May somebody always have sores or leprosy. May there be men who are not brave enough to fight, men who die in battle, or people who have no food to eat!’
30 That is how Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner. They killed him because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.
31 David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, ‘Tear your clothes! Wear sackcloth to show that you are sad! Weep because of Abner's death.’ King David himself walked behind the men who carried Abner's dead body. 32 They buried Abner in a grave in Hebron. The king wept loudly beside Abner's grave. All the people wept too.
33 The king sang this song about Abner's death:
‘Abner, you should not have died like a fool.
34 Nobody had tied your hands.
Nobody had put chains on your feet.
It was murder by wicked people that killed you.’
Then all the people started to weep again for Abner.
35 The people came and they spoke to David. They said that he should eat some food before the end of the day. But David said, ‘I will not eat any food at all before sunset. May God punish me if I eat anything!’
36 All the people heard David say this. It made them happy. They were pleased with everything that the king did. 37 That day, everyone in Israel realized that David had not wanted the death of Ner's son, Abner.
38 The king said to his servants, ‘You must understand that a great leader has died today in Israel. 39 I am God's chosen king, but even I am weak today. I cannot control these sons of Zeruiah![d] They have done a wicked thing. I pray that the Lord will punish them as they deserve.’
Footnotes
- 3:7 Ish-Bosheth was King Saul's son. He was the king of the northern part of Israel. See 2 Samuel 2:8-11. If Abner had slept with Saul's woman, it would show that he wanted to be king himself.
- 3:10 Dan was at the north border of Israel. Beersheba was in the south, in Judah. So ‘from Dan to Beersheba’ means ‘everywhere’.
- 3:19 Saul belonged to Benjamin's tribe. David belonged to Judah's tribe. The people from Benjamin's tribe had always been faithful to Saul's family.
- 3:39 Zeruiah's sons were Joab and Abishai, as well as Asahel who was now dead.
撒母耳记下 3
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
押尼珥之死
3 扫罗和大卫两家长期争战，大卫家的势力越来越强，扫罗家却日益衰微。
2 大卫在希伯仑生的儿子有耶斯列人亚希暖所生的长子暗嫩， 3 迦密人拿八的遗孀亚比该所生的次子基利押，基述王达买的女儿玛迦所生的三子押沙龙， 4 哈及所生的四子亚多尼雅，亚比她所生的五子示法提雅， 5 大卫的妻子以格拉所生的六子以特念。大卫的这些儿子都是在希伯仑生的。
6 在扫罗和大卫两家争战期间，押尼珥在扫罗家权势日增。 7 他跟扫罗的一个妃嫔、艾押的女儿利斯巴通奸，伊施波设问他：“你为什么跟我父亲的妃嫔一起睡觉呢？” 8 押尼珥听了非常愤怒，说：“难道我是犹大的走狗吗？我这样厚待你父亲扫罗家和他的亲人朋友，没有把你交给大卫，今天你竟为了一个女人来责备我！ 9-10 倘若我不照着耶和华应许大卫的誓言把扫罗的江山夺过来交给大卫，让他统治全以色列和犹大，从但到别示巴，愿耶和华重重地惩罚我！”
11 伊施波设一句话也不敢答，因为他害怕押尼珥。
12 押尼珥派使者送信给大卫，说：“这个国家难道不是你的吗？如果你与我立约，我必帮助你统一以色列。” 13 大卫回答说：“好，但你一定要把扫罗的女儿米甲带来才能见我。” 14 于是，大卫派使者去见扫罗的儿子伊施波设说：“请把我的妻子米甲送回来，因为她是我用一百个非利士人的包皮作聘礼娶来的。” 15 伊施波设就派人把米甲从她丈夫——拉亿的儿子帕铁那里接回来。 16 帕铁一路跟着米甲，边走边哭，一直到巴户琳。押尼珥对他说：“你回去吧！”他就回去了。
17 押尼珥和以色列的长老商量说：“你们以前一直都希望大卫做你们的王， 18 现在是时候了，因为耶和华曾说要借着祂仆人大卫的手，从非利士人和其他敌人手中拯救祂的以色列子民。” 19 押尼珥也跟便雅悯人商谈，然后到希伯仑把以色列人和便雅悯人的愿望告诉大卫。 20 当时，他带了二十个人前往希伯仑见大卫，大卫就设宴款待他们。 21 押尼珥对大卫说：“我要为我主我王招聚所有的以色列人，跟你立约，你便可以如愿以偿，统治全以色列。”于是大卫为他送行，他就平安地回去了。
22 大卫送押尼珥离开后不久，约押就率领大卫的军队带着许多战利品凯旋而归。 23 约押率领全军回来后，有人告诉他：“尼珥的儿子押尼珥刚才来朝见王，王送他平安地离去了。” 24 约押听后，就去见王，说：“你这做的是什么事？押尼珥来见你，你为什么放他走呢？ 25 你要知道，尼珥的儿子押尼珥想来骗你，探听你的虚实。”
26 约押从大卫那里出来，派人去追押尼珥，他们在西拉井追上了他，把他带了回来。大卫对这件事一无所知。 27 押尼珥回到希伯仑的时候，约押就把他带到城门的瓮洞，装作与他密谈，乘机用短剑刺入他的肚子，把他杀死了，为他兄弟亚撒黑报了仇。 28 大卫听到消息就说：“耶和华作证，我和我的人民永远跟尼珥的儿子押尼珥的死无关。 29 约押和他全家要承担这罪，愿他的后代永远有长疮的、患皮肤病的、拄拐杖的、被刀剑所杀的或挨饿的。” 30 约押和他兄弟亚比筛之所以杀押尼珥，是因为押尼珥在基遍杀了他们的兄弟亚撒黑。
31 大卫对约押和部下说：“你们要撕裂衣服，腰束麻布，在押尼珥棺前哭丧！”大卫王也跟在棺后送葬。 32 他们就把押尼珥葬在希伯仑。大卫王和众人在墓旁大哭一场。 33 大卫王哀悼押尼珥，说：
“押尼珥啊！
你怎能死得糊里糊涂[a]呢？
34 你的手没有被捆，
你的脚没有被锁，
你是死在阴险小人的手里啊！”
于是众人都为押尼珥哀哭。 35 大卫整天没有进食，众人来劝他吃一点东西，但他起誓说：“我若在日落以前吃任何东西，愿上帝重重地惩罚我！” 36 众人听见了，都很喜悦，王做的每一件事都令他们喜悦。 37 那天全国的人都看出尼珥的儿子押尼珥的死与大卫无关。 38 大卫王对他的随从说：“你们难道不知道今天以色列损失了一位伟大的将领吗？ 39 今天我虽然是耶和华所膏立的王，但仍势单力薄，无法对付洗鲁雅的两个儿子，愿耶和华报应他们的恶行。”
Footnotes
- 3:33 “糊里糊涂”希伯来文是“像愚笨人”。
2 Samuel 3
New King James Version
Joab Kills Abner
3 Now there was a long (A)war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
Sons of David
2 Sons were born (B)to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon (C)by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 his second, [a]Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third, (D)Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king (E)of Geshur; 4 the fourth, (F)Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5 and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.
Abner Joins Forces with David
6 Now it was so, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul.
7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was (G)Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you (H)gone in to my father’s concubine?”
8 Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, “Am I (I)a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman? 9 (J)May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David (K)as the Lord has sworn to him— 10 to transfer the kingdom from the [b]house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, (L)from Dan to Beersheba.” 11 And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.
12 Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying, “Whose is the land?” saying also, “Make your covenant with me, and indeed my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel to you.”
13 And David said, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: (M)you shall not see my face unless you first bring (N)Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.” 14 So David sent messengers to (O)Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself (P)for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, from [c]Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 Then her husband went along with her to (Q)Bahurim, [d]weeping behind her. So Abner said to him, “Go, return!” And he returned.
17 Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, “In time past you were seeking for David to be king over you. 18 Now then, do it! (R)For the Lord has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David, [e]I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’ ” 19 And Abner also spoke in the hearing of (S)Benjamin. Then Abner also went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.
20 So Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21 Then Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and (T)gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may (U)reign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
Joab Murders Abner
22 At that moment the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much [f]spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the troops that were with him had come, they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he has gone in peace.” 24 Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you; why is it that you sent him away, and he has already gone? 25 Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to know (V)your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”
26 And when Joab had gone from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it. 27 Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab (W)took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there [g]stabbed him (X)in the stomach, so that he died for the blood of (Y)Asahel his brother.
28 Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “My kingdom and I are [h]guiltless before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 (Z)Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the [i]house of Joab one (AA)who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.” 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother (AB)Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
David’s Mourning for Abner
31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, (AC)“Tear your clothes, (AD)gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” And King David followed the coffin. 32 So they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 33 And the king sang a lament over Abner and said:
“Should Abner die as a (AE)fool dies?
34 Your hands were not bound
Nor your feet put into fetters;
As a man falls before wicked men, so you fell.”
Then all the people wept over him again.
35 And when all the people came (AF)to persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, (AG)“God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else (AH)till the sun goes down!” 36 Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did pleased all the people. 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s intent to kill Abner the son of Ner. 38 Then 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 am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, (AI)are too harsh for me. (AJ)The Lord shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 3:3 Daniel, 1 Chr. 3:1
- 2 Samuel 3:10 family
- 2 Samuel 3:15 Palti, 1 Sam. 25:44
- 2 Samuel 3:16 Lit. going and weeping
- 2 Samuel 3:18 So with many Heb. mss., LXX, Syr., Tg.; MT he
- 2 Samuel 3:22 booty
- 2 Samuel 3:27 Lit. struck
- 2 Samuel 3:28 innocent
- 2 Samuel 3:29 family
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Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
