2 Samuel 3:1–21

3The fighting between the forces supporting Saul’s family and those supporting David went on for a long time. As David became stronger and stronger, his opponents became weaker and weaker.

David’s Sons

²The following six sons, in the order of their birth, were born to David at Hebron: Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam, from Jezreel; ³Chileab, whose mother was Abigail, Nabal’s widow, from Carmel; Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; ⁴Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith; Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital; ⁵Ithream, whose mother was Eglah. All of these sons were born in Hebron.

Abner Joins David

⁶As the fighting continued between David’s forces and the forces loyal to Saul’s family, Abner became more and more powerful among Saul’s followers.

⁷One day Ishbosheth son of Saul accused Abner of sleeping with Saul’s concubine Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. ⁸This made Abner furious. “Do you think that I would betray Saul? Do you really think I’m serving Judah?” he exclaimed. “From the very first I have been loyal to the cause of your father Saul, his brothers, and his friends, and I have saved you from being defeated by David; yet today you find fault with me about a woman! ^9–10The Lord promised David that he would take the kingdom away from Saul and his descendants and would make David king of both Israel and Judah, from one end of the country to the other. Now may God strike me dead if I don’t make this come true!” ¹¹Ishbosheth was so afraid of Abner that he could not say a word.

¹²Abner sent messengers to David, who at that time was at Hebron,^d to say, “Who is going to rule this land? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you win all Israel over to your side.”

¹³“Good!” David answered. “I will make an agreement with you on one condition: you must bring Saul’s daughter Michal to me when you come to see me.” ^14*And David also sent messengers to Ishbosheth to say, “Give me back my wife Michal. I paid a hundred Philistine foreskins in order to marry her.” ¹⁵So Ishbosheth took her away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. ¹⁶Paltiel followed her all the way to the town of Bahurim, crying as he went. But when Abner said, “Go back home,” he did.

¹⁷Abner went to the leaders of Israel and said to them, “For a long time you have wanted David to be your king. ¹⁸Now here is your chance. Remember that the Lord has said, ‘I will use my servant David to rescue my people Israel from the Philistines and from all their other enemies.’ ” ¹⁹Abner spoke also to the people of the tribe of Benjamin and then went to Hebron to tell David what the people of Benjamin and of Israel had agreed to do.

²⁰When Abner came to David at Hebron with twenty men, David gave a feast for them. ²¹Abner told David, “I will go now and win all Israel over to Your Majesty. They will accept you as king, and then you will get what you have wanted and will rule over the whole land.” David gave Abner a guarantee of safety and sent him on his way.