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2 Samuel 3:6-21
1599 Geneva Bible
2 Samuel 3:6-21
1599 Geneva Bible
6 ¶ Now while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner made all his power for the house of Saul.
7 And Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in to my father’s concubine?
8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a [a]dog’s head, which against Judah do show mercy this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his neighbors, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me this day with a fault concerning this woman?
9 [b]So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the Lord hath sworn to David, even so I do to him,
10 To remove the kingdom from the house of Saul, that the throne of David may be established over Israel, and over Judah, even from Dan to Beersheba.
11 And he durst no more answer to Abner: for he feared him.
12 ¶ Then Abner sent messengers to David [c]on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? who should also say, Make covenant with me, and behold, mine hand shall be with thee, to bring all Israel unto thee.
13 Who said, Well, I will make a covenant with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, that thou see not my face, except thou bring Michal Saul’s daughter when thou comest to see me.
14 ¶ Then David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I married for (A)an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband (B)Paltiel the son of Laish.
16 And her husband went with her, and came weeping behind her, unto Bahurim: then said Abner unto him, Go, and return. So he returned.
17 ¶ And Abner had [d]communication with the Elders of Israel, saying, Ye fought for David in times past, that he might be your King.
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 hands of the Philistines, and out of the hands of all their enemies.
19 Also Abner spake [e]to Benjamin, and afterward Abner went to speak with David in Hebron, concerning all that Israel was content with, and the whole [f]house of Benjamin.
20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, having twenty men with him, and David made a feast unto Abner, and to the men that were with him.
21 Then Abner said unto David, I will rise up, and go gather all Israel unto my lord the King, that they may make a covenant with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. Then David let Abner depart, who went [g]in peace.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Samuel 3:8 Dost thou esteem me no more than a dog, for all my service done to thy father’s house?
- 2 Samuel 3:9 We see how the wicked cannot abide to be admonished of their faults, but seek their displeasure, which go about to bring them from their wickedness.
- 2 Samuel 3:12 Or, secretly.
- 2 Samuel 3:17 Rather for malice that he bare toward Ishbosheth, than for love he bare to David.
- 2 Samuel 3:19 Hebrew, in the ears of Benjamin.
- 2 Samuel 3:19 Who challenged the Kingdom, because of their father Saul.
- 2 Samuel 3:21 Or, without harm.
2 Samuel 3:6-21
New International Version
2 Samuel 3:6-21
New International Version
Abner Goes Over to David
6 During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner(A) had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had had a concubine(B) named Rizpah(C) daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”
8 Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. So he answered, “Am I a dog’s head(D)—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! 9 May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised(E) him on oath 10 and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.”(F) 11 Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.
12 Then 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.”(G) 14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, “Give me my wife Michal,(H) whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.”
15 So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband(I) Paltiel(J) son of Laish. 16 Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim.(K) Then Abner said to him, “Go back home!” So he went back.
17 Abner conferred with the elders(L) of Israel and said, “For some time you have wanted to make David your king. 18 Now do it! For the Lord promised David, ‘By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines(M) and from the hand of all their enemies.(N)’”
19 Abner also spoke to the Benjamites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole tribe of Benjamin(O) wanted to do. 20 When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast(P) for him and his men. 21 Then 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(Q) with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.”(R) So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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