Abner Joins David

⁶ Now it happened that while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, ^(A)Abner was ^[a]strengthening himself in the house of Saul. ⁷ And Saul had a concubine whose name was ^(B)Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and ^[b]Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” ⁸ Then Abner became very angry over Ish-bosheth’s ^[c]question and said, “^(C)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 ^[d]that woman? ^9 (D)May God do so to ^[e]me, and more so, if ^(E)as the Lord has sworn to David, I do not accomplish 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 Ish-bosheth could no longer say a word in response to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

¹² Then 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.” ¹³ And he said, “Good! I will make a covenant with you, only I require one thing of you, ^[f]namely, that ^(H)you shall not see my face unless you ^(I)first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see ^[g]me.” ¹⁴ So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed ^(J)for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” ¹⁵ Ish-bosheth sent men and ^[h]had her taken from her husband, from ^[i]Paltiel the son of Laish. ¹⁶ And her husband went with her, weeping as he went, ^[j]following her as far as ^(K)Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” So he returned.

¹⁷ Now Abner had a ^[k]consultation with ^(L)the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you. ¹⁸ Now then, do it! For the Lord has spoken regarding David, saying, ‘^(M)By the hand of My servant David ^[l]I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hands of all their enemies.’” ¹⁹ Abner also spoke ^[m]to Benjamin; and in addition Abner went to speak ^[n]to David in Hebron everything that seemed good to Israel and to ^(N)the entire house of Benjamin.

²⁰ Then 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. ²¹ Abner said to David, “Let me set out and go and ^(O)gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that ^(P)you may be king over all that your soul desires.” So David let Abner go, and he went in peace.