2 Samuel 3 NLT HCSB Parallel

◄ 2 Samuel 3 ►

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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

1The war between the house of Saul and the house of David was long and drawn out, with David growing stronger and the house of Saul becoming weaker.

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

2Sons were born to David in Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelite;

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 the Carmelite; the third was Absalom, son of Maacah the daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;

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

4the fourth was Adonijah, son of Haggith; the fifth was Shephatiah, 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

5the sixth was Ithream, by David's wife Eglah. These 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 kept acquiring more power 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.

7Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah daughter of Aiah, and 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 very angry about Ish-bosheth's accusation. "Am I a dog's head who belongs to Judah?" he asked. "All this time I've been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends and haven't handed you over to 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 do so severely if I dont do for David what the LORD swore 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 establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beer-sheba."

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

11Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner because he was afraid of 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.”

12Abner sent messengers as his representatives to say to David, "Whose land is it? Make your covenant with me, and you can be certain I am on your side to hand 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.”

13David replied, "Good, I will make a covenant with you. However, there's one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul's daughter Michal here 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. I was engaged to her for the price of 100 Philistine foreskins."

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

15So Ish-bosheth sent someone to take her away 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. Abner said to him, "Go back." So he went back.

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

17Abner conferred with the elders of Israel: "In the past you wanted David to be king over you.

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 spoken concerning David: 'Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the power of the Philistines and the power of all Israel's 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 informed the Benjaminites and went to Hebron to inform David about all that was agreed on by Israel and 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 20 men came to David at Hebron, David held a banquet for him and his men.

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

21Abner said to David, "Let me now go and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king. They will make a covenant with you, and you will rule over all you desire." 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 and brought a large amount of plundered goods with them. Abner was not with David in Hebron because David had dismissed him, and he had 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.

23When Joab and all his army arrived, Joab was informed, "Abner son of Ner came to see the king, the king dismissed him, and he went in peace."

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

24Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Look here, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he's getting away.

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

25You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to find out about your activities and everything you're 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.

26Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They 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 to the middle of the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died in revenge for the death of Asahel, Joab's brother.

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.

28David heard about it later and said: "I and my kingdom are forever innocent 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 hang over Joab's head and his father's whole house, and may the house of Joab never be without someone who has a discharge or a skin disease, or a man who can only work a spindle, or someone who falls by the sword or starves."

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

30Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death 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.

31David then ordered Joab and all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn over Abner." And King David walked behind the funeral procession.

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. All the people wept,

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

33and the king sang a lament for Abner: Should Abner die as a fool dies?

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 not placed in bronze shackles. You fell like one who falls victim to criminals. 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 they came to urge David to eat bread while it was still day, but David took an oath: "May God punish me and do so severely if I taste bread or anything else before sunset!"

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

36All the people took note of this, and it pleased them. 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.

37On that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the killing 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 soldiers, "You must know that a great leader has fallen in Israel today.

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.”

39As for me, even though I am the anointed king, I have little power today. 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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