2 Samuel 3:12–21

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 turn all Israel over to you.”

¹³David replied, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. However, there’s one thing I require of you: You will not see my face unless you first bring Saul’s daughter Michal^o when you come to see me.”

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 a hundred Philistine foreskins.”^p

¹⁵So Ish-bosheth sent someone to take her away from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish.^{q 16}Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he went back.

THE ASSASSINATION OF ABNER

¹⁷Abner conferred with the elders of Israel: “In the past you wanted David to be king over you. 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 informed the Benjaminites and went to Hebron to inform David about all that was agreed on by Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.^{r 20}When Abner and twenty men came to David at Hebron, David held a banquet for him and his men.

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,^s and you will reign over all you desire.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.