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2 Samuel 3:6-21
Christian Standard Bible

6 During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner kept acquiring more power in the house of Saul.(A) 7 Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah(B) daughter of Aiah, and Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”

8 Abner was very angry about Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I a dog’s head[a](C) who belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I’ve been loyal to the family of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends and haven’t betrayed you to David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman! 9 May God punish Abner and do so severely if I don’t do for David what the Lord swore to him: 10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah(D) from Dan to Beer-sheba.” 11 Ish-bosheth did not dare respond to Abner because he was afraid of him.

12 Abner sent messengers as his representatives to say to David, “Whose land is it? Make your covenant with me, and you can be certain I am on your side to turn all Israel over to you.”

13 David replied, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. However, there’s one thing I require of you: You will not see my face unless you first bring Saul’s daughter Michal(E) when you come to see me.”

14 Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife Michal. I was engaged to her for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.”(F)

15 So Ish-bosheth sent someone to take her away from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish.(G) 16 Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he went back.

The Assassination of Abner

17 Abner conferred with the elders of Israel: “In the past you wanted David to be king over you. 18 Now take action, because the Lord has spoken concerning David: ‘Through my servant David I will save my people Israel from the power of the Philistines and the power of all Israel’s enemies.’”

19 Abner also informed the Benjaminites and went to Hebron to inform David about all that was agreed on by Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.(H) 20 When Abner and twenty men came to David at Hebron, David held a banquet for him and his men.

21 Abner said to David, “Let me now go and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king. They will make a covenant with you,(I) and you will reign over all you desire.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:8 = a despised person
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2 Samuel 3:6-21
Lexham English Bible

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[a] said to Abner, “Why did you have sex with[b] my father’s concubine?” 8 Abner became very angry[c] 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[d] today. 9 Thus may God punish Abner,[e] if I do not accomplish what Yahweh has sworn to David;[f] 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[g] Abner because he feared him.[h]

Abner Pledges Support for David

12 Abner sent messengers to David where he was,[i] saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me![j] Look, my hand is with you to bring all of Israel over to you!” 13 He[k] said, “Good. I will make a covenant with you.[l] 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.”[m] 14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth the son of Saul, saying, “Give me my wife Michal whom I betrothed to myself[n] for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 So Ish-Bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish.[o] 16 But her husband went with her, weeping all along[p] after her as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go and return.” So he returned.

17 The word of Abner came to[q] the elders of Israel, saying, “For quite some time[r] 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.[s] Abner also went to speak to David[t] 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[u] with you so you can reign over all which your soul desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he left in peace.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 3:7 Supported by some Hebrew and Greek manuscripts
  2. 2 Samuel 3:7 Literally “have you gone into”
  3. 2 Samuel 3:8 Literally “And it became hot for Abner very”
  4. 2 Samuel 3:8 Literally “you have called me into account with the guilt of the woman”
  5. 2 Samuel 3:9 Literally “may God do to Abner, and thus may he add to it”
  6. 2 Samuel 3:9 Literally “for as that Yahweh has sworn to David, so I will accomplish for him”
  7. 2 Samuel 3:11 Literally “return a word to”
  8. 2 Samuel 3:11 Literally “because of his fearing him”
  9. 2 Samuel 3:12 Literally “under him”
  10. 2 Samuel 3:12 Literally “cut your covenant with me”
  11. 2 Samuel 3:13 David
  12. 2 Samuel 3:13 Literally “I will cut a covenant with you”
  13. 2 Samuel 3:13 Literally “my face”
  14. 2 Samuel 3:14 Hebrew “me”
  15. 2 Samuel 3:15 The Hebrew Masoretic text (Kethib) reads “Lush”; Qere reads “Laish”
  16. 2 Samuel 3:16 Literally “going and weeping”
  17. 2 Samuel 3:17 Literally “was with”
  18. 2 Samuel 3:17 Literally “Both yesterday and the day before”
  19. 2 Samuel 3:19 Literally “in the ears of Benjamin”
  20. 2 Samuel 3:19 Literally “to speak in the ears of David”
  21. 2 Samuel 3:21 Literally “cut a covenant”
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