English Standard Version

Darby Bible Translation

Abner Joins David

There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.

1

The House of David Strengthened

And the war was long between the house of Saul and the house of David; but David became continually stronger, and the house of Saul became continually weaker.

2

And sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel;

2

And to David were sons born in Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jizreelitess;

3

and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

3

and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maachah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

4

and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

4

and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5

and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

5

and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6

While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.

6

Abner Joins David

And it came to pass while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.

7

Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”

7

And Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And [Ishbosheth] said to Abner, Why hast thou gone in to my father's concubine?

8

Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “Am I a dog’s head of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman.

8

Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, I who against Judah do shew kindness this day to the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou reproachest me this day with the fault of this woman?

9

God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the Lord has sworn to him,

9

So do God to Abner, and more also, if, as Jehovah has sworn to David, I do not so to him;

10

to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”

10

to translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba!

11

And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

11

And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

12

And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf,a 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.”

12

And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying [also], Make thy covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with thee, to turn all Israel to thee.

13

And he said, “Good; I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you; that is, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”

13

And he said, Well, I will make a covenant with thee; only I require one thing of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

14

Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, for whom I paid the bridal price of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”

14

And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I espoused to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

15

And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish.

15

And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from [her] husband, from Phaltiel the son of Laish.

16

But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned.

16

And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner to him, Go, return. And he returned.

17

And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you.

17

Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David aforetime to be king over you;

18

Now then bring it about, for 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.’”

18

and now do [it], for Jehovah has spoken of David, saying, By my servant David will I save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

19

Abner also spoke to Benjamin. And then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do.

19

And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin; and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.

20

When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.

20

So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a repast.

21

And Abner said to David, “I will arise and go and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

21

And Abner said to David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thy heart desires. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

22

Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

22

Joab Murders Abner

And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from an expedition, and brought in a great spoil with them; but Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

23

When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace.”

23

And Joab and all the host that was with him came; and they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away; and he is gone in peace.

24

Then Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone?

24

Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came to thee; why is it [that] thou hast sent him away, and he is gone?

25

You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

25

Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

26

Joab Murders Abner

When Joab came out from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it.

26

And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him again from the well of Sirah; but David did not know it.

27

And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

27

And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him secretly, and smote him there in the belly, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

28

Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the son of Ner.

28

And afterwards David heard [it], and he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before Jehovah for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

29

May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!”

29

let it fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that has an issue, or that is a leper, or that leans on a staff, or that falls by the sword, or that lacks bread!

30

So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

30

So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

31

David Mourns Abner

Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner.” And King David followed the bier.

31

David Mourns for Abner

And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your garments, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David followed the bier.

32

They buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.

32

And they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

33

And the king lamented for Abner, saying,
“Should Abner die as a fool dies?

33

And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Should Abner die as a fool dieth?

34

Your hands were not bound;
your feet were not fettered;
as one falls before the wicked
you have fallen.”
And all the people wept again over him.

34

Thy hands were not bound, Nor thy feet put into fetters; As a man falleth before wicked men, Fellest thou! And all the people wept again over him.

35

Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, “God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!”

35

And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread or aught else till the sun be down!

36

And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people.

36

And all the people remarked it, and it pleased them; as whatever the king did pleased all the people.

37

So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s will to put to death Abner the son of Ner.

37

And all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death.

38

And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?

38

And the king said to his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

39

And I was gentle today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. The Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!”

39

And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too hard for me: Jehovah reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness!

Parallel

English Standard Version

Darby Bible Translation

2 Samuel 3

2 Samuel 3