| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 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 | 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. |
| 2These are the sons who were born to David in Hebron: The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel. | 2And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel; |
| 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. | 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 was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital. | 4his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital; |
| 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 | 5and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 7One day Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, accused Abner of sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, a woman named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah. | 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?” |
| 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? | 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 strike me and even kill me if I don’t do everything I can to help David get what the LORD has promised him! | 9May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him: |
| 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.” | 10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” |
| 11Ishbosheth didn’t dare say another word because he was afraid of what Abner might do. | 11And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him. |
| 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.” | 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.” |
| 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.” | 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.” |
| 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.” | 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.” |
| 15So Ishbosheth took Michal away from her husband, Palti son of Laish. | 15So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. |
| 16Palti followed along behind her as far as Bahurim, weeping as he went. Then Abner told him, “Go back home!” So Palti returned. | 16Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home. |
| 17Meanwhile, Abner had consulted with the elders of Israel. “For some time now,” he told them, “you have wanted to make David your king. | 17Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king. |
| 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.’” | 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.’ ” |
| 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. | 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. |
| 20When Abner and twenty of his men came to Hebron, David entertained them with a great feast. | 20When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them. |
| 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 | 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. |
| 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. | 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 arrived, he was told that Abner had just been there visiting the king and had been sent away in safety. | 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.” |
| 24Joab rushed to the king and demanded, “What have you done? What do you mean by letting Abner get away? | 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! |
| 25You know perfectly well that he came to spy on you and find out everything you’re doing!” | 25Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.” |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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!” | 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 his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel at the battle of Gibeon. David Mourns Abner’s Death | 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 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. | 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. |
| 32They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king and all the people wept at his graveside. | 32When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept. |
| 33Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner: “Should Abner have died as fools die? | 33And the king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner die the death of a fool? |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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.” | 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!” |
| 36This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them! | 36All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them. |
| 37So everyone in Judah and all Israel understood that David was not responsible for Abner’s murder. | 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 King David said to his officials, “Don’t you realize that a great commander has fallen today in Israel? | 38Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel? |
| 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.” | 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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