3 Then there was a long war between the House of Saul and the House of David. But David grew stronger, and the House of Saul grew weaker.

² And children were born to David in Hebron. And his eldest son was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess.

³ And his second was Chileab, of Abigail, the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And the third was Absalom, the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai the king of Geshur.

⁴ And the fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith. And the fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital.

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

⁶ Now, while there was war between the House of Saul and the House of David, Abner strengthened himself for the House of Saul.

⁷ And Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”

⁸ Then Abner was very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, “Am I a dog’s head of Judah? This day I have shown mercy to the House of Saul your father, to his brethren, and to his neighbors, and have not delivered you into the hand of David! Yet, you charge me this day with a fault concerning this woman?

⁹ “So do God to Abner, and more also, unless I do for David as the LORD has sworn to him,

¹⁰ “to remove the kingdom from the House of Saul, so that the throne of David may be established over Israel, and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”

¹¹ And he dared not answer Abner anymore. For he feared him.

¹² Then Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “Whose is the land?” and also saying, “Make a covenant with me. And behold, my hand shall be with you, to bring all Israel to you.”

¹³ Who said, “Good. I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you, which is that you do not see my face unless you bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see me.”

¹⁴ Then David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Deliver my wife Michal to me, whom I married for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”

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

¹⁶ And her husband went with her and came, weeping, behind her, to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go. Return.” So, he returned.

¹⁷ And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, “You fought for David in times past, so that he might be your king.

¹⁸ “Then, do it now! For the LORD has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant, David, I will save My people, Israel, out of the hands of the Philistines and out of the hands of all their enemies.’”

¹⁹ Also, Abner spoke to Benjamin. And afterward, Abner went to speak with David in Hebron concerning all that Israel was content with, as well as all that of the House of Benjamin.

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

²¹ Then Abner said to David, “I will rise up and go gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.” Then David let Abner depart, who went in peace.

²² And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from the camp and brought a great spoil with them (but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he had departed in peace).

²³ When Joab and all the army that was with him had come, men told Joab, saying, “Abner, the son of Ner, came to the king. And he has sent him away. And he has gone in peace.

²⁴ Then Joab came to the king, and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why have you sent him away, so that he is gone?

²⁵ “You know Abner, the son of Ner. For he came to deceive you, and to know of your coming out and going in, and to know all that you do.”

²⁶ And when Joab had gone out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah, unknown to David.

²⁷ And when Abner had come back to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him “peaceably”. And he struck him under the fifth rib, so that he died, because of the blood of Asahel, his brother.

²⁸ And afterward, when it came to David’s ear, he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD forever concerning the blood of Abner, the son of Ner.

²⁹ “Let the blood fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s House, so that the House of Joab is never without some who have discharges, or are lepers, or who lean on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”

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

³¹ And David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner!” And King David himself followed the bier.

³² And when they had buried Abner in Hebron, the king lifted up his voice and wept beside the sepulcher of Abner. And all the people wept.

³³ And the king lamented over Abner, and said, “Did Abner die as a fool dies?

³⁴ “Your hands were not bound, nor your feet tied in fetters of bronze. Yet, as a man falls before wicked men did you fall.” And all the people wept again for him.

³⁵ Afterward, all the people came to urge David to eat food while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, “So do God to me and more also if I taste bread or anything else until the Sun is down.”

³⁶ And all the people noted it, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did pleased all the people.

³⁷ For all the people and all Israel understood on that day how that it was not the king’s doing that Abner, the son of Ner, had been killed.

³⁸ And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that there is a prince and a great man who has fallen this day in Israel?

³⁹ “And I, the anointed king, am weak this day. And these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too hard for me. May the LORD reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.”