New Living Translation

Darby Bible Translation

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.

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

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.

2

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

3

The second was Daniel,a whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel.
The third was Absalom, whose mother was 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

The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith.
The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.

4

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

5

The sixth was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, David’s wife.
These sons were all born to David in Hebron.

5

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

6

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.

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

One day Ishbosheth,b Saul’s son, accused Abner of sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, a woman named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah.

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

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?

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 strike me and even kill me if I don’t do everything I can to help David get what the LORD has promised him!

9

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

10

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.”

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

Ishbosheth didn’t dare say another word because he was afraid of what Abner might do.

11

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

12

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.”

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

“All right,” David replied, “but I will not negotiate with you unless you bring back my wife Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come.”

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

David then sent this message to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son: “Give me back my wife Michal, for I bought her with the livesc of 100 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

So Ishbosheth took Michal away from her husband, Paltid son of Laish.

15

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

16

Palti followed along behind her as far as Bahurim, weeping as he went. Then Abner told him, “Go back home!” So Palti 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

Meanwhile, Abner had consulted with the elders of Israel. “For some time now,” he told them, “you have wanted to make David your king.

17

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

18

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.’”

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 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.

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 and twenty of his men came to Hebron, David entertained them with a great feast.

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

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.

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

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.

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 arrived, he was told that Abner had just been there visiting the king and had been sent away in safety.

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

Joab rushed to the king and demanded, “What have you done? What do you mean by letting Abner get away?

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 perfectly well that he came to spy on you and find out everything you’re 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 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

Joab and his family are the guilty ones. May the family of Joab be cursed in every generation with a man who has open sores or leprosye or who walks on crutchesf or dies by the sword or begs for food!”

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 his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel at the battle of 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’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.

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 in Hebron, and the king and all the people wept at his graveside.

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

Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner:
“Should Abner have died as fools die?

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 chained.
No, you were murdered —
the victim of a wicked plot.”
All the people wept again for Abner.

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

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.”

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

This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them!

36

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

37

So everyone in Judah and all Israel understood that David was not responsible for Abner’s murder.

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 King David said to his officials, “Don’t you realize that a great commander has fallen today 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 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.”

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 Living Translation

Darby Bible Translation

2 Samuel 3

2 Samuel 3