2 Samuel 3:13-39 ▼

13 And he said, “Good, I will cut with you a covenant. But one thing I am asking of you, saying, you shall not see my face, except if to my face you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see my face.”

14 And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, saying, “Give to me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”

15 And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel son of Laish.

16 And her husband went along with her, weeping behind her to Bahurim. And Abner said to him, “Go, turn back.” And he turned back.

17 And the word of Abner was with the elders of Israel, saying, “Even before also heretofore you? were seeking David for king over you?.

18 And now do it, for YHWH has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of David My servant I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’”

19 And Abner spoke also in the ears of Benjamin. And Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good in the eyes of Israel and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin.

20 And Abner came to David at Hebron, and with him twenty men, and David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.

21 And Abner said to David, “I will arise and go and gather to my lord the king all Israel, that they may cut with you a covenant, that you may reign over all that Your heart desires.” And David sent away Abner, and he went in peace.

22 And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from the troop, and much spoil they brought with them. And Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

23 And Joab and all the troops that were with him had come, and they told Joab, saying, “Abner son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he has gone in peace.”

24 And Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you! Why is this that you sent him away, and he is long gone?

25 You have known Abner son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

26 And Joab had gone from David, and he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; and David did not know it.

27 And Abner had returned to Hebron, and Joab took him to the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and he struck him there in the stomach, and he died on account of the blood of Asah-el his brother.

28 And David heard it after thus, and he said, “I and My kingdom are guiltless before YHWH, even to forever, of the blood of Abner son of Ner.

29 Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all the house of his father, and never let there fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or falls by the sword, or is lacking bread.”

30 (And Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, upon that he had killed Asahel their brother at Gibeon in the battle.)

31 And David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your? clothes, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before the face of Abner.” And King David followed after the bier.

32 And they buried Abner in Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner. And all the people wept.

33 And the king lamented over Abner and said, “As the death of a fool should Abner die?

34 Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters. As a man falls before the face of wicked men, you fell.” And all the people again wept over him.

35 And all the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was still the day, and David took an oath, saying, “So do to me God, and thus may he continue for, if before the face of the sun goes down, I taste bread or any other thing.”

36 And all the people took note, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did was good in the eyes of all the people.

37 For all the people and all Israel understood that on that day it was not from the king to kill Abner son of Ner.

38 And the king said to his servants, “Do you? not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?

39 And I am weak today, and though anointed king, these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me; YHWH shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”