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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.
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.
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.
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.
Sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
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;
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 fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
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.
and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David at Hebron.
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.
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.
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?”
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?
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.
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!
“May God do so to Abner, and more also, if as the LORD has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for him,
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.”
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.”
Ishbosheth didn’t dare say another word because he was afraid of what Abner might do.
And he could no longer answer Abner a word, because he was afraid of him.
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.”
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.”
“All right,” David replied, “but I will not negotiate with you unless you bring back my wife Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come.”
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.”
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.”
Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish.
Palti followed along behind her as far as Bahurim, weeping as he went. Then Abner told him, “Go back home!” So Palti returned.
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.
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 Abner had consultation with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you.
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.’”
“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.’”
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.
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.
When Abner and twenty of his men came to Hebron, David entertained them with a great feast.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When Joab arrived, he was told that Abner had just been there visiting the king and had been sent away in safety.
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.”
Joab rushed to the king and demanded, “What have you done? What do you mean by letting Abner get away?
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?
You know perfectly well that he came to spy on you and find out everything you’re doing!”
“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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.”
So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel at the battle of Gibeon.
So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.
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.
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.
They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king and all the people wept at his graveside.
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.
Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner:
“Should Abner have died as fools die?
“Should Abner have died as fools die?
The king chanted a lament for Abner and said,
“Should Abner die as a fool dies?
“Should Abner die as a fool dies?
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.
“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.
As one falls before the wicked, you have fallen.”
And all the people wept again over him.
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.”
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.”
This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them!
Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, just as everything the king did pleased all the people.
So everyone in Judah and all Israel understood that David was not responsible for Abner’s murder.
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.
Then King David said to his officials, “Don’t you realize that a great commander has fallen today in Israel?
Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?
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.”
“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.”