2 Samuel 3:1-21 ▼

1 There was then long warre betweene the house of Saul, and the house of Dauid: But Dauid waxed stroger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

2 And vnto Dauid were children borne in Hebron: his eldest sonne also was Amnon of Ahinoam the Iesraelite:

3 The seconde, Cheleab of Abigail the wyfe of Nabal the Carmelite: the third, Absalom the sonne of Maacha the daughter of Thalmai, the king of Gessur:

4 The fourth, Adonia the sonne of Haggith: the fyft, Sephatia the sonne of Abital:

5 And the sixt Iethream, by Egla Dauids wyfe: These were borne to Dauid in Hebron.

6 And whyle there was warre betweene the house of Saul and the house of Dauid, Abner held vp the house of Saul.

7 And Saul had a concubine named Rispha, the daughter of Ahia: And Isboseth sayd to Abner, Wherfore hast thou gone in vnto my fathers concubine?

8 Then was Abner very wroth for the wordes of Isboseth, and sayde: Am I a dogges head, whiche against Iuda do shew mercie this day vnto the house of Saul thy father, and to his brethren and frendes, & haue not deliuered thee into the hande of Dauid: and thou fyndest a fault in me this day for this woman?

9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except as the Lorde hath sworne to Dauid, euen so will I do to him,

10 To bring the kingdome fro the house of Saul, that the throne of Dauid may be stablisshed ouer Israel and ouer Iuda, euen from Dan to Beerseba.

11 And he coulde geue Abner neuer a worde to aunswere, because he feared him.

12 And Abner sent messengers to Dauid secretly, saying: Whose is the land? Who should also say, Make a bond with me, and beholde my hande is with thee, to bring all Israel vnto thee.

13 He sayde: Well, I will make a bonde with the: But one thing I require of thee, that is, that thou see not my face, except thou first bring Michol Sauls daughter, when thou comest to see me.

14 And Dauid sent messengers to Isboseth Sauls sonne, saying: Deliuer me my wife Michol, whiche I maried for an hundred foreskinnes of ye Philistines.

15 And Isboseth sent, and toke her from her husband Phalti the sonne of Lais.

16 And her husband went with her, and came weeping behinde her, til they came to Bahurim. Then sayde Abner vnto him, Go and returne. And he returned.

17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying: Ye sought for Dauid in times past, that he might be your king:

18 Nowe then do it: for the Lorde hath spoken of Dauid, saying: By the hande of my seruaunt Dauid, I will saue my people Israel out of the handes of the Philistines, and out of the hande of all their enemies.

19 And Abner spake in the eares of Beniamin: and afterward Abner went to speake in the eares of Dauid in Hebron all that Israel was content with and the whole house of Beniamin.

20 And so Abner came to Dauid to Hebron, hauing twentie men with him: & Dauid made him & the men that were with him a feast.

21 And Abner sayde vnto Dauid: I will vp, & go gather all Israel vnto my lorde the king, that they may make an appoyntment with thee, and that thou mayest raigne ouer all that thyne heart desireth. And when Dauid had let Abner depart, he went in peace.