| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1However, the war was prolonged between the house of Saul and the house of David. David was becoming steadily stronger, while the house of Saul was becoming increasingly 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 |
| 2Now sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born to Ahinoam the Jezreelite. | 2These are the sons who were born to David in Hebron: The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel. |
| 3His second son was Kileab, born to Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. His third son was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai 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. |
| 4His fourth son was Adonijah, the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah, the son of Abitail. | 4The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital. |
| 5His sixth son was Ithream, born to David's wife Eglah. These sons were all 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 |
| 6As the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was becoming more influential 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 named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth said to Abner, "Why did you have sexual relations with 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. |
| 8These words of Ish-bosheth really angered Abner and he said, "Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah? This very day I am demonstrating loyalty to the house of Saul your father and to his relatives and his friends! I have not betrayed you into the hand of David. Yet you have accused me of sinning with this woman today! | 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 will severely judge Abner if I do not do for David exactly what the LORD has promised 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! |
| 10namely, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah all the way from Dan to Beer Sheba!" | 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.” |
| 11Ish-bosheth was unable to answer Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him. | 11Ishbosheth didn’t dare say another word because he was afraid of what Abner might do. |
| 12Then Abner sent messengers to David saying, "To whom does the land belong? Make an agreement with me, and I will do whatever I can to cause all Israel to turn 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.” |
| 13So David said, "Good! I will make an agreement with you. I ask only one thing from you. You will not see my face unless you bring Saul's daughter Michal when you come to visit me." | 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.” |
| 14David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth son of Saul with this demand: "Give me my wife Michal whom I acquired for a hundred Philistine foreskins." | 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.” |
| 15So Ish-bosheth took her from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. | 15So Ishbosheth took Michal away from her husband, Palti son of Laish. |
| 16Her husband went along behind her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Finally Abner said to him, "Go back!" So he returned home. | 16Palti followed along behind her as far as Bahurim, weeping as he went. Then Abner told him, “Go back home!” So Palti returned. |
| 17Abner advised the elders of Israel, "Previously you were wanting David to be your king. | 17Meanwhile, Abner had consulted with the elders of Israel. “For some time now,” he told them, “you have wanted to make David your king. |
| 18Act now! For the LORD has said to David, 'By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the Philistines and from 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.’” |
| 19Then Abner spoke privately with the Benjaminites. Abner also went to Hebron to inform David privately of all that Israel and the entire house of Benjamin had agreed to. | 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, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a banquet 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. |
| 21Abner said to David, "Let me leave so that I may go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make an agreement with you. Then you will rule over all that you desire." So David sent Abner away, and he left 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 |
| 22Now David's soldiers and Joab were coming back from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for David had sent him away and he had left 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 arrived, Joab was told: "Abner the son of Ner came to the king; he sent him away, and he left in peace!" | 23When Joab arrived, he was told that Abner had just been there visiting the king and had been sent away in safety. |
| 24So Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Abner has come to you! Why would you send him away? Now he's gone on his way! | 24Joab rushed to the king and demanded, “What have you done? What do you mean by letting Abner get away? |
| 25You know Abner the son of Ner! Surely he came here to spy on you and to determine when you leave and when you return and to discover everything that you are doing!" | 25You know perfectly well that he came to spy on you and find out everything you’re doing!” |
| 26Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah. (But David was not aware of 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. |
| 27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gate as if to speak privately with him. Joab then stabbed him in the abdomen and killed him, avenging the shed blood of his brother Asahel. | 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. |
| 28When David later heard about this, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the LORD of the shed blood of Abner 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 his blood whirl over the head of Joab and the entire house of his father! May the males of Joab's house never cease to have someone with a running sore or a skin disease or one who works at the spindle or one who falls by the sword or one who lacks food!" | 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 his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in Gibeon during the battle. | 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 |
| 31David instructed Joab and all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes! Put on sackcloth! Lament before Abner!" Now King David followed behind the funeral 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. |
| 32So they buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly over Abner's grave and all the people wept too. | 32They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king and all the people wept at his graveside. |
| 33The king chanted the following lament for Abner: "Should Abner have died like a fool? | 33Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner: “Should Abner have died as fools die? |
| 34Your hands were not bound, and your feet were not put into irons. You fell the way one falls before criminals." All the people wept over him again. | 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 and encouraged David to eat food while it was still day. But David took an oath saying, "God will punish me severely if I taste bread or anything whatsoever before the sun sets!" | 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.” |
| 36All the people noticed this and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased all the people. | 36This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them! |
| 37All the people and all Israel realized on that day that the killing of Abner son of Ner was not done at the king's instigation. | 37So everyone in Judah and all Israel understood that David was not responsible for Abner’s murder. |
| 38Then the king said to his servants, "Do you not realize that a great leader 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? |
| 39Today I am weak, even though I am anointed as king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too much for me to bear! May the LORD punish appropriately the one who has done this evil thing!" | 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.” |
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