English Standard Version

New Living Translation

1There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.

1That was the beginning of a long war between those who were loyal to Saul and those loyal to David. As time passed David became stronger and stronger, while Saul’s dynasty became weaker and weaker. David’s Sons Born in Hebron

2And sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel;

2These are the sons who were born to David in Hebron: The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel.

3and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

3The second was Daniel, whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. The third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.

4and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

4The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.

5and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

5The sixth was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, David’s wife. These sons were all born to David in Hebron. Abner Joins Forces with David

6While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.

6As the war between the house of Saul and the house of David went on, Abner became a powerful leader among those loyal to Saul.

7Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”

7One day Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, accused Abner of sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, a woman named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah.

8Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “Am I a dog’s head of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman.

8Abner was furious. “Am I some Judean dog to be kicked around like this?” he shouted. “After all I have done for your father, Saul, and his family and friends by not handing you over to David, is this my reward—that you find fault with me about this woman?

9God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the LORD has sworn to him,

9May God strike me and even kill me if I don’t do everything I can to help David get what the LORD has promised him!

10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”

10I’m going to take Saul’s kingdom and give it to David. I will establish the throne of David over Israel as well as Judah, all the way from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.”

11And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

11Ishbosheth didn’t dare say another word because he was afraid of what Abner might do.

12And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you.”

12Then Abner sent messengers to David, saying, “Doesn’t the entire land belong to you? Make a solemn pact with me, and I will help turn over all of Israel to you.”

13And he said, “Good; I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you; that is, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”

13“All right,” David replied, “but I will not negotiate with you unless you bring back my wife Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come.”

14Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, for whom I paid the bridal price of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”

14David then sent this message to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son: “Give me back my wife Michal, for I bought her with the lives of 100 Philistines.”

15And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish.

15So Ishbosheth took Michal away from her husband, Palti son of Laish.

16But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned.

16Palti followed along behind her as far as Bahurim, weeping as he went. Then Abner told him, “Go back home!” So Palti returned.

17And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you.

17Meanwhile, Abner had consulted with the elders of Israel. “For some time now,” he told them, “you have wanted to make David your king.

18Now then bring it about, for the LORD has promised David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.’”

18Now is the time! For the LORD has said, ‘I have chosen David to save my people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and from all their other enemies.’”

19Abner also spoke to Benjamin. And then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do.

19Abner also spoke with the men of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron to tell David that all the people of Israel and Benjamin had agreed to support him.

20When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.

20When Abner and twenty of his men came to Hebron, David entertained them with a great feast.

21And Abner said to David, “I will arise and go and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

21Then Abner said to David, “Let me go and call an assembly of all Israel to support my lord the king. They will make a covenant with you to make you their king, and you will rule over everything your heart desires.” So David sent Abner safely on his way. Joab Murders Abner

22Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

22But just after David had sent Abner away in safety, Joab and some of David’s troops returned from a raid, bringing much plunder with them.

23When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace.”

23When Joab arrived, he was told that Abner had just been there visiting the king and had been sent away in safety.

24Then Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone?

24Joab rushed to the king and demanded, “What have you done? What do you mean by letting Abner get away?

25You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

25You know perfectly well that he came to spy on you and find out everything you’re doing!”

26When Joab came out from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it.

26Joab then left David and sent messengers to catch up with Abner, asking him to return. They found him at the well of Sirah and brought him back, though David knew nothing about it.

27And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

27When Abner arrived back at Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gateway as if to speak with him privately. But then he stabbed Abner in the stomach and killed him in revenge for killing his brother Asahel.

28Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD for the blood of Abner the son of Ner.

28When David heard about it, he declared, “I vow by the LORD that I and my kingdom are forever innocent of this crime against Abner son of Ner.

29May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!”

29Joab and his family are the guilty ones. May the family of Joab be cursed in every generation with a man who has open sores or leprosy or who walks on crutches or dies by the sword or begs for food!”

30So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

30So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel at the battle of Gibeon. David Mourns Abner’s Death

31Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner.” And King David followed the bier.

31Then David said to Joab and all those who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on burlap. Mourn for Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the procession to the grave.

32They buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.

32They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king and all the people wept at his graveside.

33And the king lamented for Abner, saying, “Should Abner die as a fool dies?

33Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner: “Should Abner have died as fools die?

34Your hands were not bound; your feet were not fettered; as one falls before the wicked you have fallen.” And all the people wept again over him.

34Your hands were not bound; your feet were not chained. No, you were murdered— the victim of a wicked plot.” All the people wept again for Abner.

35Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, “God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!”

35David had refused to eat anything on the day of the funeral, and now everyone begged him to eat. But David had made a vow, saying, “May God strike me and even kill me if I eat anything before sundown.”

36And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people.

36This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them!

37So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s will to put to death Abner the son of Ner.

37So everyone in Judah and all Israel understood that David was not responsible for Abner’s murder.

38And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?

38Then King David said to his officials, “Don’t you realize that a great commander has fallen today in Israel?

39And I was gentle today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. The LORD repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!”

39And even though I am the anointed king, these two sons of Zeruiah—Joab and Abishai—are too strong for me to control. So may the LORD repay these evil men for their evil deeds.”

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.