2 Samuel 3:12–21

¹²And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf,¹ saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you.” ¹³And he said, “Good; I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you; that is, ^gyou shall not see my face unless you first bring ^hMichal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.” ¹⁴Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, ⁱfor whom I paid the bridal price of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” ¹⁵And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. ¹⁶But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to ^jBahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned.

¹⁷And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you. ¹⁸Now then bring it about, ^kfor the Lord has promised David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.’ ” ¹⁹Abner also spoke to ^lBenjamin. And then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do.

²⁰When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. ²¹And Abner said to David, “I will arise and go and ^mwill gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may ⁿreign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.