2 Samuel 3

The House of David Grows Stronger

1The war between the house of Saul and the house of David was long. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

Sons Born to David in Hebron

2Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelite; 3his second was Chileab, by Abigail, wife of Nabal the Carmelite; the third was Absalom son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; 4the fourth was Adonijah son of Haggith; the fifth was Shephatiah son of Abital; 5and the sixth was Ithream, by Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

Abner Breaks with Ish-Bosheth

6While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. 7Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you go in to my father’s concubine?” 8Then Abner became very angry over the words of Ish-Bosheth and said, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? This day I show steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his companions, and I have not given you into the hand of David, yet today you charge me with guilt concerning this woman! 9Thus may God do to Abner and more also, if I do not do for David just as the LORD swore to him: 10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” 11Ish-Bosheth could not answer Abner another word because he feared him.

Abner Negotiates with David

12Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “Whose is the land?” and saying, “Make your covenant with me, and look, my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.” 13David said, “Good. I will make a covenant with you. Only one thing I ask from you: you will not see my face unless you first bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see my face.” 14David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15So Ish-Bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel son of Laish. 16Her husband went with her, walking and weeping behind her as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned.

Abner Speaks with the Elders of Israel

17Abner had spoken with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you. 18Now do it, for the LORD has spoken concerning 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.’” 19Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin. Then Abner went to speak in the ears of David at Hebron all that was good in the eyes of Israel and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin. 20Abner came to David at Hebron, and twenty men were with him. David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21Abner said to David, “I will arise and go and gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and you may reign over all that your life desires.” Then David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

Joab Murders Abner

22And look, the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought with them much plunder. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for David had sent him away and he had gone in peace. 23When Joab and all the army that was with him came, they told Joab, saying, “Abner son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he went in peace.” 24Then Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you send him away, and he has gone, gone away? 25You know 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.” 26Joab went out from David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah, but David did not know it. 27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him quietly, and there he struck him in the belly so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

David Distances Himself from Abner’s Death

28Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before the LORD forever from the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house. May there never fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or skin disease, or one who holds a spindle, or one who falls by the sword, or one who lacks bread.” 30So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner because he had put Asahel their brother to death in the battle at Gibeon.

David Laments Abner

31David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David walked behind the bier. 32They buried Abner at Hebron, and the king lifted up his voice and wept at Abner’s grave, and all the people wept. 33The king lamented for Abner and said:

“Should Abner die
as a fool dies? 34Your hands were not bound,
and your feet were not put into bronze chains.
As one falls before sons of wickedness,
you fell.”

And all the people wept over him again. 35Then all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was still day, but David swore, saying, “Thus may God do to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down.” 36All the people recognized it, and it was good in their eyes. Everything the king did was good in the eyes of all the people. 37So all the people and all Israel knew that day that it had not been from the king to put Abner son of Ner to death. 38The king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39I am weak today, though anointed king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too severe for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil.”