| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New Living Translation |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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 |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2These are the sons who were born to David in Hebron: The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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 |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7One day Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, accused Abner of sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, a woman named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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? |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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! |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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.” |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11Ishbosheth didn’t dare say another word because he was afraid of what Abner might do. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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.” |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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.” |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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.” |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15So Ishbosheth took Michal away from her husband, Palti son of Laish. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16Palti followed along behind her as far as Bahurim, weeping as he went. Then Abner told him, “Go back home!” So Palti returned. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17Meanwhile, Abner had consulted with the elders of Israel. “For some time now,” he told them, “you have wanted to make David your king. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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.’” |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20When Abner and twenty of his men came to Hebron, David entertained them with a great feast. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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 |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23When Joab arrived, he was told that Abner had just been there visiting the king and had been sent away in safety. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24Joab rushed to the king and demanded, “What have you done? What do you mean by letting Abner get away? |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25You know perfectly well that he came to spy on you and find out everything you’re doing!” |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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!” |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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 |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 32[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 32They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king and all the people wept at his graveside. |
| 33[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 33Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner: “Should Abner have died as fools die? |
| 34[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 35[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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.” |
| 36[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 36This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them! |
| 37[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 37So everyone in Judah and all Israel understood that David was not responsible for Abner’s murder. |
| 38[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 38Then King David said to his officials, “Don’t you realize that a great commander has fallen today in Israel? |
| 39[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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.” |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
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