| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. | 1The war between the house of Saul and the house of David was long and drawn out, with David growing stronger and the house of Saul becoming weaker. |
| 2And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel; | 2Sons were born to David in Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelite; |
| 3his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; | 3his second was Chileab, by Abigail, the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third was Absalom, son of Maacah the daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; |
| 4his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital; | 4the fourth was Adonijah, son of Haggith; the fifth was Shephatiah, son of Abital; |
| 5and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron. | 5the sixth was Ithream, by David's wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron. |
| 6During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul. | 6During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner kept acquiring more power in the house of Saul. |
| 7Meanwhile, Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?” | 7Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah daughter of Aiah, and Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, "Why did you sleep with my father's concubine?" |
| 8Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman! | 8Abner was very angry about Ish-bosheth's accusation. "Am I a dog's head who belongs to Judah?" he asked. "All this time I've been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends and haven't handed you over to David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman! |
| 9May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him: | 9May God punish Abner and do so severely if I dont do for David what the LORD swore to him: |
| 10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” | 10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beer-sheba." |
| 11And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him. | 11Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner because he was afraid of him. |
| 12Then Abner sent messengers in his place to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.” | 12Abner 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 hand all Israel over to you." |
| 13“Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.” | 13David replied, "Good, I will make a covenant with you. However, there's one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul's daughter Michal here when you come to see me." |
| 14Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.” | 14Then 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 100 Philistine foreskins." |
| 15So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. | 15So Ish-bosheth sent someone to take her away from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish. |
| 16Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home. | 16Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Abner said to him, "Go back." So he went back. |
| 17Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king. | 17Abner conferred with the elders of Israel: "In the past you wanted David to be king over you. |
| 18Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’ ” | 18Now 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.'" |
| 19Abner also spoke to the Benjamites and went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin. | 19Abner 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. |
| 20When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them. | 20When Abner and 20 men came to David at Hebron, David held a banquet for him and his men. |
| 21Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace. | 21Abner 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, and you will rule over all you desire." So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace. |
| 22Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid, bringing with them a great plunder. But Abner was not with David in Hebron because David had sent him on his way in peace. | 22Just then David's soldiers and Joab returned from a raid and brought a large amount of plundered goods with them. Abner was not with David in Hebron because David had dismissed him, and he had gone in peace. |
| 23When Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.” | 23When Joab and all his army arrived, Joab was informed, "Abner son of Ner came to see the king, the king dismissed him, and he went in peace." |
| 24So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away! | 24Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Look here, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he's getting away. |
| 25Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.” | 25You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to find out about your activities and everything you're doing." |
| 26As soon as Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David was unaware of it. | 26Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah, but David was unaware of it. |
| 27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel. | 27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside to the middle of the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died in revenge for the death of Asahel, Joab's brother. |
| 28Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. | 28David heard about it later and said: "I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. |
| 29May it whirl over the heads of Joab and the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.” | 29May it hang over Joab's head and his father's whole house, and may the house of Joab never be without someone who has a discharge or a skin disease, or a man who can only work a spindle, or someone who falls by the sword or starves." |
| 30(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.) | 30Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon. |
| 31Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier. | 31David then ordered Joab and all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn over Abner." And King David walked behind the funeral procession. |
| 32When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept. | 32When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner's tomb. All the people wept, |
| 33And the king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner die the death of a fool? | 33and the king sang a lament for Abner: Should Abner die as a fool dies? |
| 34Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. As a man falls before the wicked, so also you fell.” And all the people wept over him even more. | 34Your hands were not bound, your feet not placed in bronze shackles. You fell like one who falls victim to criminals. And all the people wept over him even more. |
| 35Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!” | 35Then they came to urge David to eat bread while it was still day, but David took an oath: "May God punish me and do so severely if I taste bread or anything else before sunset!" |
| 36All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them. | 36All the people took note of this, and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased them. |
| 37So on that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner. | 37On that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the killing of Abner son of Ner. |
| 38Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel? | 38Then the king said to his soldiers, "You must know that a great leader has fallen in Israel today. |
| 39And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!” | 39As for me, even though I am the anointed king, I have little power today. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!" |
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