New International Version

New King James Version

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

1

Joab Kills Abner

Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2

Sons were born to David in Hebron:
His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel;

2

Sons of David

Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

3

his second, Kileab the son of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel;
the third, Absalom the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

3

his second, [a]Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;

4

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

4

the fourth, Adonijah 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.

5

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

6

Abner Goes Over to David

During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul.

6

Abner Joins Forces with David

Now it was so, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul.

7

Now Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”

7

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

8

Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. So he answered, “Am I a dog’s head — 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!

8

Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman?

9

May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised him on oath

9

May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David as the Lord has sworn to him —

10

and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.”

10

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

11

Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

11

And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared 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.”

12

Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying, “Whose is the land?” saying also, “Make your covenant with me, and indeed my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel 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.”

13

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

14

Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.”

14

So David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”

15

So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.

15

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

16

Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back home!” So he went back.

16

Then her husband went along with her to Bahurim, [d]weeping behind her. So Abner said to him, “Go, return!” And he returned.

17

Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “For some time you have wanted to make David your king.

17

Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, “In time past you were seeking for David to be king over you.

18

Now do it! For the Lord promised David, ‘By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’ ”

18

Now then, do it! For the Lord has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David, [e]I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’ ”

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 Benjamin wanted to do.

19

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

20

When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men.

20

So 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.

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 covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

21

Then Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and 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.

22

Joab Murders Abner

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.

22

Joab Murders Abner

At that moment the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much [f]spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he 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.

23

When Joab and all the troops that were with him had come, they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he has 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!

24

Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you; why is it that you sent him away, and he has already gone?

25

You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing.”

25

Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that 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.

26

And when Joab had gone from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it.

27

Now when Abner 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 him in the stomach, and he died.

27

Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there [g]stabbed him in the stomach, so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother.

28

Later, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.

28

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

29

May his blood fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family! May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosya or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food.”

29

Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the [i]house of Joab one who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”

30

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

30

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

31

Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and walk in mourning in front of Abner.” King David himself walked behind the bier.

31

David’s Mourning for Abner

Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” And King David followed the coffin.

32

They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.

32

So 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 sang this lament for Abner:
“Should Abner have died as the lawless die?

33

And the king sang a lament over Abner and said:
“Should Abner die as a fool dies?

34

Your hands were not bound,
your feet were not fettered.
You fell as one falls before the wicked.”
And all the people wept over him again.

34

Your hands were not bound
Nor your feet put into fetters;
As a man falls before wicked men, so you fell.”
Then 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, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”

35

And when all the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!”

36

All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them.

36

Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did pleased all the people.

37

So on that day all the people there and all Israel knew that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

37

For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s intent to kill Abner the son of Ner.

38

Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day?

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?

39

And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”

39

And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me. The Lord shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”

Parallel

New International Version

New King James Version

2 Samuel 3

2 Samuel 3