| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. | 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. |
| 2Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; | 2And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel; |
| 3his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur; | 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; |
| 4the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; | 4his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital; |
| 5and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron. | 5and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron. |
| 6Now it was so, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul. | 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. |
| 7And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” | 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?” |
| 8Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman? | 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! |
| 9May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David as the LORD has sworn to him— | 9May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to 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.” | 10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” |
| 11And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. | 11And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him. |
| 12Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying, “Whose is the land?” saying also, “Make your covenant with me, and indeed my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel to you.” | 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.” |
| 13And David said, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.” | 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.” |
| 14So David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” | 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.” |
| 15And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish. | 15So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. |
| 16Then her husband went along with her to Bahurim, weeping behind her. So Abner said to him, “Go, return!” And he returned. | 16Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home. |
| 17Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, “In time past you were seeking for David to be king over you. | 17Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king. |
| 18Now then, do it! For the LORD has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David, I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’ ” | 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.’ ” |
| 19And Abner also spoke in the hearing of Benjamin. Then Abner also went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and the whole house of Benjamin. | 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. |
| 20So 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. | 20When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them. |
| 21Then Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and 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 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. |
| 22At that moment the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone 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. |
| 23When Joab and all the troops that were with him had come, they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he has 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.” |
| 24Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you; why is it that you sent him away, and he has already gone? | 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! |
| 25Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.” | 25Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.” |
| 26And when Joab had gone from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it. | 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. |
| 27Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there stabbed him in the stomach, so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother. | 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. |
| 28Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “My kingdom and I are guiltless before the LORD forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. | 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. |
| 29Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.” | 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.” |
| 30So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. | 30(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.) |
| 31Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” And King David followed the coffin. | 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. |
| 32So they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. | 32When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept. |
| 33And the king sang a lament over Abner and said: “Should Abner die as a fool dies? | 33And the king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner die the death of a fool? |
| 34Your hands were not bound Nor your feet put into fetters; As a man falls before wicked men, so you fell.” Then all the people wept over him again. | 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. |
| 35And when all the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!” | 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!” |
| 36Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did pleased all the people. | 36All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them. |
| 37For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s intent to kill Abner the son of Ner. | 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. |
| 38Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? | 38Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel? |
| 39And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me. The LORD shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.” | 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!” |
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