3 The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time.b David grew stronger and stronger,c while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.d

2 Sons were born to David in Hebron:

His firstborn was Amnone the son of Ahinoamf of Jezreel;

3 his second, Kileab the son of Abigailg the widow of Nabal of Carmel;

the third, Absalomh the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;i

4 the fourth, Adonijahj the son of Haggith;

the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5 and the sixth, Ithream the son of David’s wife Eglah.

These were born to David in Hebron.

Abner Goes Over to David

6 During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abnerk had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had had a concubinel named Rizpahm daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”

8 Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. So he answered, “Am I a dog’s headn—on Judah’s side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven’t handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman! 9 May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promisedo him on oath 10 and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.”p 11 Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, “Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you.”

13 “Good,” said David. “I will make an agreement with you. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me.”q 14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, “Give me my wife Michal,r whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.”

15 So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husbands Paltielt son of Laish. 16 Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim.u Then Abner said to him, “Go back home!” So he went back.

17 Abner conferred with the eldersv of Israel and said, “For some time you have wanted to make David your king. 18 Now do it! For the Lord promised David, ‘By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistinesw and from the hand of all their enemies.x’ ”

19 Abner also spoke to the Benjamites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole tribe of Benjaminy wanted to do. 20 When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feastz for him and his men. 21 Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a covenanta with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.”b So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

Joab Murders Abner

22 Just then David’s men and Joab returned from a raid and brought with them a great deal of plunder. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the soldiers with him arrived, he was told that Abner son of Ner had come to the king and that the king had sent him away and that he had gone in peace.

24 So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone! 25 You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing.”

26 Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David did not know it. 27 Now when Abnerc returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed himd in the stomach, and he died.e

28 Later, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocentf before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29 May his bloodg fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family!h May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sorei or leprosya or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food.”

30 (Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

31 Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackclothj and walk in mourningk in front of Abner.” King David himself walked behind the bier. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king weptl aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.

33 The king sang this lamentm for Abner:

“Should Abner have died as the lawless die?

34 Your hands were not bound,

your feet were not fettered.n

You fell as one falls before the wicked.”

And all the people wept over him again.

35 Then they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely,o if I taste breadp or anything else before the sun sets!”

36 All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. 37 So on that day all the people there and all Israel knew that the king had no partq in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

38 Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallenr in Israel this day? 39 And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiahs are too strongt for me.u May the Lord repayv the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”