2 Samuel 3

New International Version

3 The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time.^(A) David grew stronger and stronger,^(B) while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.^(C)

²Sons were born to David in Hebron:

His firstborn was Amnon^(D) the son of Ahinoam^(E) of Jezreel;

³his second, Kileab the son of Abigail^(F) the widow of Nabal of Carmel;

the third, Absalom^(G) the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;^(H)

⁴the fourth, Adonijah^(I) the son of Haggith;

the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

⁵and the sixth, Ithream the son of David’s wife Eglah.

These were born to David in Hebron.

Abner Goes Over to David

⁶During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner^(J) had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul. ⁷Now Saul had had a concubine^(K) named Rizpah^(L) daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”

⁸Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. So he answered, “Am I a dog’s head^(M)—on Judah’s side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven’t handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman! ⁹May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised^(N) him on oath ¹⁰and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.”^(O) ¹¹Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

¹²Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, “Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you.”

¹³“Good,” said David. “I will make an agreement with you. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me.”^(P) ¹⁴Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, “Give me my wife Michal,^(Q) whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.”

¹⁵So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband^(R) Paltiel^(S) son of Laish. ¹⁶Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim.^(T) Then Abner said to him, “Go back home!” So he went back.

¹⁷Abner conferred with the elders^(U) of Israel and said, “For some time you have wanted to make David your king. ¹⁸Now do it! For the Lord promised David, ‘By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines^(V) and from the hand of all their enemies.^(W)’”

¹⁹Abner also spoke to the Benjamites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole tribe of Benjamin^(X) wanted to do. ²⁰When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast^(Y) for him and his men. ²¹Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant^(Z) with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.”^(AA) So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

Joab Murders Abner

²²Just then David’s men and Joab returned from a raid and brought with them a great deal of plunder. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. ²³When Joab and all the soldiers with him arrived, he was told that Abner son of Ner had come to the king and that the king had sent him away and that he had gone in peace.

²⁴So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone! ²⁵You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing.”

²⁶Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David did not know it. ²⁷Now when Abner^(AB) returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him^(AC) in the stomach, and he died.^(AD)

²⁸Later, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent^(AE) before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. ²⁹May his blood^(AF) fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family!^(AG) May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sore^(AH) or leprosy^[a] or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food.”

³⁰(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

³¹Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth^(AI) and walk in mourning^(AJ) in front of Abner.” King David himself walked behind the bier. ³²They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept^(AK) aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.

³³The king sang this lament^(AL) for Abner:

“Should Abner have died as the lawless die?
³⁴ Your hands were not bound,
your feet were not fettered.^(AM)
You fell as one falls before the wicked.”

And all the people wept over him again.

³⁵Then they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely,^(AN) if I taste bread^(AO) or anything else before the sun sets!”

³⁶All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. ³⁷So on that day all the people there and all Israel knew that the king had no part^(AP) in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

³⁸Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen^(AQ) in Israel this day? ³⁹And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah^(AR) are too strong^(AS) for me.^(AT) May the Lord repay^(AU) the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”

Footnotes

2 Samuel 3:29 The Hebrew for leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.

2 Samuel 3

New American Standard Bible

The House of David Strengthened

3 Now ^(A)there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David became steadily stronger, while the house of Saul became steadily weaker.

²^(B)Sons were born to David in Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by ^(C)Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; ³and his second, Chileab, by Abigail the ^[a]widow of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of ^(D)Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of ^(E)Geshur; ⁴and the fourth, ^(F)Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; ⁵and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron.

Abner Joins David

⁶Now it happened that while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, ^(G)Abner was ^[b]strengthening himself in the house of Saul. ⁷And Saul had a concubine whose name was ^(H)Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and ^[c]Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” ⁸Then Abner became very angry over Ish-bosheth’s ^[d]question and said, “^(I)Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and have not let you fall into the hands of David; yet today you call me to account for wrongdoing with ^[e]that woman? ⁹^(J)May God do so to ^[f]me, and more so, if ^(K)as the Lord has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for him: ¹⁰^(L)to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, ^(M)from Dan even to Beersheba!” ¹¹And Ish-bosheth could no longer say a word in response to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

¹²Then Abner sent messengers to David at his place, saying, “Whose is the land? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you.” ¹³And he said, “Good! I will make a covenant with you, only I require one thing of you, ^[g]namely, that ^(N)you shall not see my face unless you ^(O)first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see ^[h]me.” ¹⁴So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed ^(P)for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” ¹⁵Ish-bosheth sent men and ^[i]had her taken from her husband, from ^[j]Paltiel the son of Laish. ¹⁶And her husband went with her, weeping as he went, ^[k]following her as far as ^(Q)Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” So he returned.

¹⁷Now Abner had a ^[l]consultation with ^(R)the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you. ¹⁸Now then, do it! For the Lord has spoken regarding David, saying, ‘^(S)By the hand of My servant David ^[m]I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hands of all their enemies.’” ¹⁹Abner also spoke ^[n]to Benjamin; and in addition Abner went to speak ^[o]to David in Hebron everything that seemed good to Israel and to ^(T)the entire house of Benjamin.

²⁰Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David held a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. ²¹Abner said to David, “Let me set out and go and ^(U)gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that ^(V)you may be king over all that your soul desires.” So David let Abner go, and he went in peace.

²²And behold, ^(W)the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought a large amount of plunder with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, since he had let him go, and he had gone in peace. ²³When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, they informed Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go on his way, and he has gone in peace.” ²⁴Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why then have you let him go, so that he is already gone? ²⁵You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to gain your confidence, and to learn of ^(X)your ^[p]going out and coming in and to find out everything that you are doing.”

Joab Murders Abner

²⁶When Joab left David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know about it. ²⁷So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there ^(Y)he struck him in the belly, so that he died on account of the blood of his brother Asahel. ²⁸Afterward, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. ²⁹^(Z)May it turn upon the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not be eliminated from the house of Joab ^(AA)someone who suffers a discharge, or has leprosy, or ^[q]holds the spindle, or falls by the sword, or lacks bread.” ³⁰So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner ^(AB)because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

David Mourns Abner

³¹Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “^(AC)Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David walked behind the bier. ³²And they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king raised his voice and wept at ^(AD)the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. ³³And ^(AE)the king sang a song of mourning for Abner and said,

“Should Abner die as a fool dies?
³⁴Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put in bronze shackles;
As one falls before the ^[r]wicked, you have fallen.”

And all the people wept over him again. ³⁵Then all the people came ^(AF)to provide ^[s]food for David in his distress while it was still day; but David vowed, saying, “^(AG)May God do so to me, and more so, if I taste bread or anything else ^(AH)before the sun goes down.” ³⁶Now all the people took note of David’s vow, and it ^[t]pleased them, just as everything that the king did ^[u]pleased all the people. ³⁷So all the people and all Israel understood on that day that it had not been the desire of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death. ³⁸Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a leader and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? ³⁹And I am ^(AI)weak today, though anointed king; and these men, ^(AJ)the sons of Zeruiah, are too difficult for me. ^(AK)May the Lord repay the evildoer in proportion to his evil.”

Footnotes

2 Samuel 3:3 Lit wife
2 Samuel 3:6 Or remaining faithful to
2 Samuel 3:7 As in some mss and ancient versions; MT he
2 Samuel 3:8 Lit words
2 Samuel 3:8 Lit the
2 Samuel 3:9 Lit Abner
2 Samuel 3:13 Lit saying
2 Samuel 3:13 Lit my face
2 Samuel 3:15 Lit took her
2 Samuel 3:15 In 1 Sam 25:44, Palti
2 Samuel 3:16 Lit after her
2 Samuel 3:17 Lit a word
2 Samuel 3:18 As in many mss and ancient versions; MT he
2 Samuel 3:19 Lit in the ears of
2 Samuel 3:19 Lit in the ears of
2 Samuel 3:25 I.e., daily business
2 Samuel 3:29 I.e., an effeminate man; LXX holds on to a staff (prob. a crutch)
2 Samuel 3:34 Lit sons of wickedness
2 Samuel 3:35 Lit bread
2 Samuel 3:36 Lit was good in their eyes
2 Samuel 3:36 Lit was good in the eyes of all

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; ³and 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; ⁴and the fourth, ^(F)Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; ⁵and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

⁶While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. ⁷Now 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?” ⁸Then 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, ¹⁰to 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.” ¹¹And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

¹²And 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.” ¹³And 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.” ¹⁴Then 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.” ¹⁵And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. ¹⁶But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to ^(P)Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned.

¹⁷And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you. ¹⁸Now 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.’” ¹⁹Abner 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.

²⁰When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. ²¹And 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.

²²Just 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. ²³When 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.” ²⁴Then 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? ²⁵You 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

²⁶When 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. ²⁷And 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. ²⁸Afterward, 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!” ³⁰So 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

³¹Then 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. ³²They buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. ³³And the king ^(AD)lamented for Abner, saying,

^(AE)“Should Abner die ^(AF)as a fool dies?
³⁴Your 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. ³⁵Then 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!” ³⁶And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people. ³⁷So 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. ³⁸And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? ³⁹And 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

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

2 Samuel 3

La Biblia de las Américas

3 Hubo larga guerra^(A) entre la casa de Saúl y la casa de David; pero David se iba fortaleciendo, mientras que la casa de Saúl se iba debilitando.

Hijos de David nacidos en Hebrón

²^(B)A David le nacieron hijos en Hebrón; su primogénito fue Amnón, hijo de Ahinoam^(C) la jezreelita; ³el segundo, Quileab, de Abigail, viuda^[a] de Nabal de Carmel; el tercero, Absalón, hijo de Maaca, hija de Talmai, rey de Gesur^(D); ⁴el cuarto, Adonías, hijo de Haguit^(E); el quinto, Sefatías, hijo de Abital, ⁵y el sexto, Itream, de Egla, mujer de David. Estos le nacieron a David en Hebrón.

David y Abner

⁶Sucedió que durante la guerra que había entre la casa de Saúl y la casa de David, Abner se fortaleció en la casa de Saúl^(F). ⁷Y Saúl había tenido una concubina cuyo nombre era Rizpa, hija de Aja^(G); y dijo Is-boset^[b] a Abner: ¿Por qué te has llegado a la concubina de mi padre? ⁸Entonces Abner se enojó mucho por las palabras de Is-boset, y dijo: ¿Acaso soy yo cabeza de perro^(H) que pertenece a Judá? Hoy he mostrado bondad hacia la casa de tu padre Saúl, hacia sus hermanos y hacia sus amigos, y no te he entregado en manos de David; sin embargo, tú me acusas hoy de una ofensa con esta^[c] mujer. ⁹Así haga Dios a Abner, y aún más^(I), si lo que^[d] el Señor ha jurado a David no lo obtengo para él^(J): ¹⁰transferir el reino de la casa de Saúl y establecer el trono de David sobre Israel y sobre Judá desde Dan hasta Beerseba^(K). ¹¹Y él ya no pudo responder a Abner ni una palabra, porque le temía.

¹²Entonces Abner envió mensajeros a David de su parte, diciendo: ¿De quién es la tierra? Y que dijeran también: Haz tu pacto conmigo, y he aquí, mi mano será contigo para traer a ti a todo Israel. ¹³Y él respondió: Muy bien. Haré pacto contigo, pero una cosa demando de ti^[e]: No verás mi rostro^(L) a menos de que cuando vengas a verme^[f] traigas a Mical, la hija de Saúl^(M). ¹⁴Y David envió mensajeros a Is-boset, el hijo de Saúl, diciendo: Dame a mi mujer Mical, con la cual me desposé por cien prepucios de los filisteos^(N). ¹⁵Is-boset, pues, envió a quitársela a su marido, a Paltiel^[g], hijo de Lais. ¹⁶Pero su marido fue con ella, llorando mientras iba, y la siguió hasta Bahurim^(O). Entonces Abner le dijo: Ve, vuélvete. Y él se volvió.

¹⁷Abner consultó^[h] con los ancianos de Israel^(P), diciendo: Hace tiempo que buscabais a David para que fuera rey sobre vosotros. ¹⁸Ahora pues, hacedlo. Porque el Señor ha hablado acerca de David, diciendo: «Por mano de mi siervo David salvaré^[i] a mi pueblo Israel de mano de los filisteos^(Q) y de mano de todos sus enemigos». ¹⁹Habló también Abner a oídos de los de Benjamín; Abner además fue a hablar a oídos de David en Hebrón de todo lo que parecía bien a^[j] Israel y a toda la casa de Benjamín^(R).

²⁰Llegó Abner adonde estaba David, en Hebrón, y con él veinte hombres. Y David preparó un banquete para Abner y los hombres que lo acompañaban. ²¹Y Abner dijo a David: Me levantaré e iré a reunir a todo Israel junto a mi señor el rey para que hagan un pacto contigo^(S), y seas rey sobre todo lo que tu corazón^[k] desea^(T). Entonces David despidió a Abner, y él se fue en paz.

²²He aquí, los siervos de David y Joab vinieron de hacer una incursión^(U) trayendo consigo mucho botín; pero Abner no estaba con David en Hebrón, porque él lo había despedido y se había ido en paz. ²³Cuando llegó Joab y todo el ejército que estaba con él, le dieron aviso a Joab, diciendo: Abner, hijo de Ner, vino al rey, y él lo ha despedido y se ha ido en paz. ²⁴Entonces vino Joab al rey y dijo: ¿Qué has hecho? He aquí, Abner vino a ti; ¿por qué, pues, lo has despedido y él ya se ha ido? ²⁵Conoces a Abner, hijo de Ner, que vino a engañarte y saber de tus salidas y de tus entradas, y a enterarse de todo lo que haces^(V).

La muerte de Abner

²⁶Y saliendo Joab de donde estaba David, envió mensajeros tras Abner, y lo hicieron volver desde el pozo de Sira; pero David no lo sabía. ²⁷Cuando Abner regresó a Hebrón, Joab lo llevó aparte en medio de la puerta para hablarle en privado, y allí, por causa de la sangre de Asael su hermano^(W), lo hirió en el vientre y murió. ²⁸Cuando David lo supo después, dijo: Yo y mi reino somos inocentes para siempre delante del Señor de la sangre de Abner, hijo de Ner. ²⁹Caiga^[l] su sangre sobre la cabeza de Joab y sobre toda la casa de su padre^(X), y nunca falte en la casa de Joab quien padezca flujo, ni quien sea leproso^(Y), ni quien se sostenga con báculo, ni quien muera a espada, ni quien carezca de pan. ³⁰Así pues, Joab y su hermano Abisai mataron a Abner porque él había dado muerte a Asael^(Z), hermano de ellos, en la batalla de Gabaón.

³¹Entonces David dijo a Joab y a todo el pueblo que estaba con él: Rasgad vuestros vestidos^(AA), y ceñíos de cilicio, y haced duelo delante de Abner. Y el rey David iba detrás del féretro. ³²Sepultaron, pues, a Abner en Hebrón; y el rey alzó su voz^(AB) y lloró junto al sepulcro de Abner, y lloró también todo el pueblo. ³³Y entonó el rey una elegía^(AC) por Abner, y dijo:

¿Había de morir Abner como muere un insensato?
³⁴Tus manos no estaban atadas, ni tus pies puestos en grillos;
como el que cae delante de los malvados^[m], has caído.

Y todo el pueblo volvió a llorar por él. ³⁵Entonces todo el pueblo se llegó a David para persuadirlo a^[n] que comiera pan mientras aún era de día^(AD); pero David juró, diciendo: Así me haga Dios y aun más, si pruebo pan o cosa alguna^(AE) antes de ponerse el sol^(AF). ³⁶Y todo el pueblo reparó en ello, y les agradó^[o], pues todo lo que el rey hacía agradaba a^[p] todo el pueblo. ³⁷Así todo el pueblo y todo Israel comprendió aquel día que no había sido el deseo del rey de que se diera muerte a Abner, hijo de Ner. ³⁸Entonces el rey dijo a sus siervos: ¿No sabéis que un príncipe y un gran hombre ha caído hoy en Israel? ³⁹Hoy soy débil, aunque ungido rey^(AG); y estos hombres, hijos de Sarvia, son más duros que yo^(AH). Que el Señor pague al malhechor conforme a su maldad^(AI).

Footnotes

2 Samuel 3:3 Lit., mujer
2 Samuel 3:7 Así en algunos mss. y versiones antiguas; en el T.M., él dijo
2 Samuel 3:8 Lit., la
2 Samuel 3:9 Lit., como
2 Samuel 3:13 Lit., de ti, diciendo
2 Samuel 3:13 Lit., a ver mi rostro
2 Samuel 3:15 En 1 Sam. 25:44, Palti
2 Samuel 3:17 Lit., tuvo una palabra
2 Samuel 3:18 Así en muchos mss. y versiones antiguas; en el T.M., él salvará
2 Samuel 3:19 Lit., era bueno a los ojos de
2 Samuel 3:21 Lit., alma
2 Samuel 3:29 Lit., Arremolínese
2 Samuel 3:34 Lit., hijos de maldad
2 Samuel 3:35 Lit., para hacer
2 Samuel 3:36 Lit., fue bueno a sus ojos
2 Samuel 3:36 Lit., era bueno a los ojos de

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.

²And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

³And 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;

⁴And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

⁵And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

⁶And 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.

⁷And 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?

⁸Then 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?

⁹So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the Lord hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

¹⁰To 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.

¹¹And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

¹²And 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.

¹³And 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.

¹⁴And 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.

¹⁵And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.

¹⁶And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

¹⁷And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:

¹⁸Now 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.

¹⁹And 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.

²⁰So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.

²¹And 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.

²²And, 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.

²³When 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.

²⁴Then 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?

²⁵Thou 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.

²⁶And 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.

²⁷And 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.

²⁸And 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:

²⁹Let 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.

³⁰So Joab, and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

³¹And 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.

³²And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

³³And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?

³⁴Thy 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.

³⁵And 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.

³⁶And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

³⁷For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

³⁸And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

³⁹And 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.

New International Version (NIV)