New American Standard Bible

Darby Bible Translation

The House of David Strengthened

Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David grew steadily stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker continually.

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

Sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

2

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

3

and his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; 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, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David at Hebron.

5

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

6

Abner Joins David

It came about while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David that 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 that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hands of David; and yet today you charge me with a guilt concerning the 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

“May God do so to Abner, and more also, if as the LORD has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for 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 to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even 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 he could no longer answer Abner a word, because he was afraid of him.

11

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

12

Then Abner sent messengers to David in his place, saying, “Whose is the land? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over 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

He said, “Good! I will make a covenant with you, but I demand one thing of you, namely, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see me.”

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

So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed for 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

Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from 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 as he went, and followed her as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” So 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

Now Abner had consultation with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be 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, do it! For the LORD has spoken of 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.’”

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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 in the hearing of Benjamin; and in addition Abner went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.

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

Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And 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

Abner said to David, “Let me arise and go and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may be king over all that your soul 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

And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much spoil with them; but Abner was not with David in 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 arrived, they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, 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 came to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why then have you sent him away and he is already 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 Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you and to learn of your going out and coming in and to find out 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, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know 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

So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the belly so that he died on account of 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 it, he said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before the LORD forever of 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 on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who takes hold of a distaff, 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 gird on sackcloth and lament before Abner.” And King David walked behind 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

Thus they buried Abner in 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

The king chanted a lament for Abner and said,
“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, nor your feet put in fetters;
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 still day; but David vowed, saying, “May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before 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

Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, just as everything 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 will of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death.

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

Then 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

“I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too difficult for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil.”

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

New American Standard Bible

Darby Bible Translation

2 Samuel 3

2 Samuel 3