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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.
That was the beginning of a long war between those who were loyal to Saul and those loyal to David. As time passed David became stronger and stronger, while Saul’s dynasty became weaker and weaker.
Sons were born to David in Hebron:
His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel;
His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel;
David’s Sons Born in Hebron
These are the sons who were born to David in Hebron:
The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel.
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;
the third, Absalom the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;
the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith.
The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.
The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.
and the sixth, Ithream the son of David’s wife Eglah.
These were born to David in Hebron.
These were born to David in Hebron.
The sixth was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, David’s wife.
These sons were all born to David in Hebron.
These sons were all born to David in Hebron.
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.
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.
Abner Joins Forces with David
As the war between the house of Saul and the house of David went on, Abner became a powerful leader among those loyal to Saul.
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?”
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!
Abner was furious. “Am I some Judean dog to be kicked around like this?” he shouted. “After all I have done for your father, Saul, and his family and friends by not handing you over to David, is this my reward — that you find fault with me about this woman?
May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised him on oath
May God strike me and even kill me if I don’t do everything I can to help David get what the LORD has promised him!
and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.”
I’m going to take Saul’s kingdom and give it to David. I will establish the throne of David over Israel as well as Judah, all the way from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.”
Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.
Ishbosheth didn’t dare say another word because he was afraid of what Abner might do.
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.”
Then Abner sent messengers to David, saying, “Doesn’t the entire land belong to you? Make a solemn pact with me, and I will help turn over all of Israel to you.”
“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.”
“All right,” David replied, “but I will not negotiate with you unless you bring back my wife Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come.”
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.”
So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.
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.
Palti followed along behind her as far as Bahurim, weeping as he went. Then Abner told him, “Go back home!” So Palti returned.
Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “For some time you have wanted to make David your king.
Meanwhile, Abner had consulted with the elders of Israel. “For some time now,” he told them, “you have wanted to make David your king.
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.’ ”
Now is the time! For the LORD has said, ‘I have chosen David to save my people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and from all their other enemies.’”
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.
Abner also spoke with the men of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron to tell David that all the people of Israel and Benjamin had agreed to support him.
When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men.
When Abner and twenty of his men came to Hebron, David entertained them with a great feast.
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.
Then Abner said to David, “Let me go and call an assembly of all Israel to support my lord the king. They will make a covenant with you to make you their king, and you will rule over everything your heart desires.” So David sent Abner safely on his way.
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.
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.
Joab Murders Abner
But just after David had sent Abner away in safety, Joab and some of David’s troops returned from a raid, bringing much plunder with them.
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.
When Joab arrived, he was told that Abner had just been there visiting the king and had been sent away in safety.
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!
Joab rushed to the king and demanded, “What have you done? What do you mean by letting Abner get away?
You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing.”
You know perfectly well that he came to spy on you and find out everything you’re doing!”
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.
Joab then left David and sent messengers to catch up with Abner, asking him to return. They found him at the well of Sirah and brought him back, though David knew nothing about it.
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.
When Abner arrived back at Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gateway as if to speak with him privately. But then he stabbed Abner in the stomach and killed him in revenge for killing his brother Asahel.
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.
When David heard about it, he declared, “I vow by the LORD that I and my kingdom are forever innocent of this crime against Abner son of Ner.
(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)
So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel at the battle of Gibeon.
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.
David Mourns Abner’s Death
Then David said to Joab and all those who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on burlap. Mourn for Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the procession to the grave.
They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.
They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king and all the people wept at his graveside.
The king sang this lament for Abner:
“Should Abner have died as the lawless die?
“Should Abner have died as the lawless die?
Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner:
“Should Abner have died as fools die?
“Should Abner have died as fools die?
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.
your feet were not fettered.
You fell as one falls before the wicked.”
And all the people wept over him again.
Your hands were not bound;
your feet were not chained.
No, you were murdered —
the victim of a wicked plot.”
All the people wept again for Abner.
your feet were not chained.
No, you were murdered —
the victim of a wicked plot.”
All the people wept again for Abner.
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!”
David had refused to eat anything on the day of the funeral, and now everyone begged him to eat. But David had made a vow, saying, “May God strike me and even kill me if I eat anything before sundown.”
All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them.
This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them!
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.
So everyone in Judah and all Israel understood that David was not responsible for Abner’s murder.
Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day?
Then King David said to his officials, “Don’t you realize that a great commander has fallen today in Israel?
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!”
And even though I am the anointed king, these two sons of Zeruiah — Joab and Abishai — are too strong for me to control. So may the LORD repay these evil men for their evil deeds.”