2 Samuel 3
Names of God Bible
3 As the war between the royal families of Saul and David dragged on, David’s family became stronger and stronger, and Saul’s family became weaker and weaker.
David’s Sons(A)
2 Sons were born to David while he was in Hebron. His first son was Amnon, born to Ahinoam from Jezreel. 3 The second was Chileab, born to Abigail (who had been Nabal’s wife) from Carmel. The third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah (the daughter of King Talmai) from Geshur. 4 The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital. 5 The sixth was Ithream, born to David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David while he was in Hebron.
Abner’s Death
6 During the war between the families of Saul and David, Abner strengthened his position in Saul’s royal family. 7 Saul had a concubine[a] named Rizpah (Aiah’s daughter). Ishbosheth asked Abner, “Why did you have sex with my father’s concubine?”
8 Ishbosheth’s question made Abner very angry. “Have I been behaving like some Judean dog?”[b] he asked. “Until now I’ve been faithful to your father Saul’s family, to his relatives and friends, and I haven’t handed you over to David. But now you charge me with a crime because of this woman. 9 May Elohim strike me dead unless I do for David what Yahweh had promised him with an oath: 10 ‘I, Yahweh, will transfer the kingship from Saul’s family and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.’” 11 Ishbosheth couldn’t respond to a single word, because he was afraid of Abner.
12 Then Abner sent messengers to David to speak on his behalf. “Who owns this country?” he asked. “Make an agreement with me,” he said. “I’ll support you and bring all Israel to you.”
13 “Good!” David answered. “I’ll make an agreement with you. But there’s one condition: You can’t come to see me unless you bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come.”
14 Then David sent messengers to Saul’s son Ishbosheth to say, “Give me my wife Michal. I made a payment of 100 Philistine foreskins for her.”
15 So Ishbosheth sent men to take her from her husband Paltiel, son of Laish. 16 Her husband went with her and cried over her all the way to Bahurim. “Go home,” Abner told him. So he went home.
17 Meanwhile, Abner sent the following message to the leaders of Israel: “For some time now you’ve wanted to make David your king. 18 Do it now, because Yahweh said about David: ‘I will save my people Israel from the Philistines and all their other enemies through my servant David.’” 19 Abner also spoke specifically to the people of Benjamin.
Then Abner went directly to David in Hebron to tell him everything Israel and the entire tribe of Benjamin had approved. 20 So Abner came with 20 men to David in Hebron, and David had a feast for Abner and his men.
21 Abner told David, “I must go now so that I can gather all Israel for you, Your Majesty. They will make a treaty with you, and you will rule everything your heart desires.” Then David dismissed Abner, who left peacefully.
22 Just then David’s men and Joab were coming home from a raid with a lot of goods. Abner had been dismissed, so he was no longer with David in Hebron. 23 When Joab came back with the whole army, he was told, “Ner’s son Abner came to the king, but David dismissed him, and Abner left peacefully.”
24 Then Joab went to the king and asked, “What have you done? Abner came to see you. Why did you dismiss him and let him get away? 25 Certainly you must know that Ner’s son Abner came to deceive you, to find out about your movements and learn everything you’re doing!”
26 After leaving David, Joab sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the cistern of Sirah without David knowing about it. 27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gateway as if to talk to him privately. There he stabbed Abner in the belly. Abner died because he spilled the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.
28 Later when David heard about it, he said, “As far as Yahweh is concerned, my kingdom and I are forever innocent of spilling the blood of Ner’s son Abner. 29 May the blame fall on the head of Joab and all of his family. May there always be members of Joab’s family who have oozing sores and skin diseases, who can only work a spindle,[c] who die in battle, and who never have any food.” 30 (Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)
31 David told Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” King David followed the open casket. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly at Abner’s grave, and all the people cried. 33 The king sang a funeral song for Abner:
Should Abner die like a godless fool?
34 Your hands were not tied.
Your feet were not chained.
You fell as one falls in front of wicked men.
And all the people continued to cry for him.
35 That entire day all the people tried to get David to eat some food. But David had taken an oath: “May Elohim strike me dead if I taste any food or anything else before the sun goes down.” 36 Then all the people understood and approved of this, as all the people approved of everything the king did. 37 That day all the people of Israel knew the king wasn’t responsible for killing Ner’s son Abner. 38 The king said to his officers, “Don’t you know that today a leader, a great man, has fallen in Israel? 39 Today I’m weak, though I’m the anointed king. These men, Zeruiah’s sons, are too cruel for me. May Yahweh repay this evildoer as his evil deeds deserve.”
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 3:7 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.
- 2 Samuel 3:8 English equivalent difficult.
- 2 Samuel 3:29 Spinning yarn and thread was normally done only by women and therefore was something only the weakest of men would do.
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
- 2 Samuel 3:1 Literally “was going and strong”
- 2 Samuel 3:1 Literally “was going and weak”
- 2 Samuel 3:2 Literally “the Jezreelitess”
- 2 Samuel 3:7 Supported by some Hebrew and Greek manuscripts
- 2 Samuel 3:7 Literally “have you gone into”
- 2 Samuel 3:8 Literally “And it became hot for Abner very”
- 2 Samuel 3:8 Literally “you have called me into account with the guilt of the woman”
- 2 Samuel 3:9 Literally “may God do to Abner, and thus may he add to it”
- 2 Samuel 3:9 Literally “for as that Yahweh has sworn to David, so I will accomplish for him”
- 2 Samuel 3:11 Literally “return a word to”
- 2 Samuel 3:11 Literally “because of his fearing him”
- 2 Samuel 3:12 Literally “under him”
- 2 Samuel 3:12 Literally “cut your covenant with me”
- 2 Samuel 3:13 David
- 2 Samuel 3:13 Literally “I will cut a covenant with you”
- 2 Samuel 3:13 Literally “my face”
- 2 Samuel 3:14 Hebrew “me”
- 2 Samuel 3:15 The Hebrew Masoretic text (Kethib) reads “Lush”; Qere reads “Laish”
- 2 Samuel 3:16 Literally “going and weeping”
- 2 Samuel 3:17 Literally “was with”
- 2 Samuel 3:17 Literally “Both yesterday and the day before”
- 2 Samuel 3:19 Literally “in the ears of Benjamin”
- 2 Samuel 3:19 Literally “to speak in the ears of David”
- 2 Samuel 3:21 Literally “cut a covenant”
- 2 Samuel 3:22 David
- 2 Samuel 3:24 Literally “and he went going”
- 2 Samuel 3:27 Literally “for the blood of Asahel his brother.” See Num 35:16–25
- 2 Samuel 3:28 Literally “from with Yahweh”
- 2 Samuel 3:29 Literally “May there not be cut off from the house of Joab”
- 2 Samuel 3:34 Literally “and all the people did again to weep over him”
- 2 Samuel 3:35 Literally “Thus may God do to me and thus may he add”
- 2 Samuel 3:37 Literally “that it was not from the king”
2 Samuel 3
King James Version
3 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
2 And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
3 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
6 And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.
7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?
8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?
9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the Lord hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;
10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.
11 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.
12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
13 And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.
14 And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.
16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.
17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:
18 Now then do it: for the Lord hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.
19 And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.
20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.
21 And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
22 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
23 When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.
26 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
29 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
30 So Joab, and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.
32 And 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 lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
34 Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.
35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.
37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.
38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
39 And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.
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