Abner Cuts a Covenant with David

⁶ Now it happened, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David that ^(A)Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. ⁷ Now Saul had a concubine whose name was ^(B)Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and ^[a]Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” ⁸ Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “^(C)Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show lovingkindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hands of David; and yet today you charge me with a guilt concerning the woman. ^9 (D)May God do so to Abner, and more also, if ^(E)as Yahweh has sworn to David, I do not do this for him, ^10 (F)to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, ^(G)from Dan even to Beersheba.” ¹¹ And he could no longer respond a word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

¹² Then Abner sent messengers to David in his place, saying, “Whose is the land? Cut your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to turn all Israel over to you.” ¹³ And he said, “Good! I will cut a covenant with you, but I ask one thing of you, ^[b]namely, ^(H)you shall not see my face unless you ^(I)first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.” ¹⁴ So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed ^(J)for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” ¹⁵ And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from ^[c]Paltiel the son of Laish. ¹⁶ But her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her as far as ^(K)Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” So he returned.

¹⁷ Now Abner had ^[d]consultation with ^(L)the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you. ¹⁸ So now, do it! For Yahweh has spoken of David, saying, ‘^(M)By the hand of My servant David ^[e]I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’” ¹⁹ Abner also spoke in the hearing of Benjamin; and in addition Abner went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that was good in the sight of Israel and in the sight of ^(N)the whole house of Benjamin.

²⁰ Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. ²¹ And Abner said to David, “Let me arise and go and ^(O)gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may cut a covenant with you, and that ^(P)you may be king over all that your soul desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.