Kings II 3

1 And there was war for a long time between the house of Saul and the house of David; and the house of David grew continually stronger; but the house of Saul grew continually weaker.

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

2 And sons were born to David in Chebron: and his first-born was Ammon the son of Achinoom the Jezraelitess.

Now sons were born to David in Hebron. And his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel;

3 And his second son [was] Daluia, the son of Abigaia the Carmelitess; and the third, Abessalom the son of Maacha the daughter of Tholmi the king of Gessir.

and his second, Daluiah, of Abigail of Carmel; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

4 And the fourth [was] Ornia, the son of Aggith, and the fifth [was] Saphatia, the son of Abital.

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

5 And the sixth [was] Jetheraam, the son of Aegal the wife of David. These were born to David in Chebron.

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

6 And it came to pass while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abenner was governing the house of Saul.

And it came about while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was gaining power in the house of Saul.

7 And Saul had a concubine, Respha, the daughter of Jol; and Jebosthe the son of Saul said to Abenner, Why hast thou gone in to my father's concubine?

Now Saul had a secondary wife, named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbaal son of Saul said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's secondary wife?"

8 And Abenner was very angry with Jebosthe for this saying; and Abenner said to him, Am I a dog's head? I have this day wrought kindness with the house of Saul thy father, and with his brethren and friends, and have not gone over to the house of David, and dost thou this day seek a charge against me concerning injury to a woman?

Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ishbaal, and said, "Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? Until today, is it for myself that I have been doing all these things, showing 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 yet you charge me this day with a fault concerning this woman.

9 God do thus and more also to Abenner, if as the Lord swore to David, so do I not to him this day;

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

10 to take away the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to raise up the throne of David over Israel and over Juda from Dan to Bersabee.

to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba."

11 And Jebosthe could not any longer answer Abenner a word, because he feared him.

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

12 And Abenner sent messengers to David to Thaelam where he was, immediately, saying, Make thy covenant with me, and, behold, my hand [is] with thee to bring back to thee all the house of Israel.

Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, "Whose is the land?" and saying, "Make your alliance with me, and look, my hand shall be with you, to bring all Israel around to you."

13 And David said, With a good will I will make with thee a covenant: only I demand one condition of thee, saying, Thou shalt not see my face, unless thou bring Melchol the daughter of Saul, when thou comest to see my face.

He said, "Good. I will make a covenant with you, but one thing I require of you. That is, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Mikal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face."

14 And David sent messengers to Jebosthe the son of Saul, saying, Restore me my wife Melchol, whom I took for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

David sent messengers to Ishbaal, Saul's son, saying, "Give me my wife Mikal, whom I betrothed to myself for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines."

15 And Jebosthe sent, and took her from her husband, [even] from Phaltiel the son of Selle.

Ishbaal sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish.

16 And her husband went with her weeping behind her as far as Barakim. And Abenner said to him, Go, return; and he returned.

Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go. Return." So he returned.

17 And Abenner spoke to the elders of Israel, saying, In former days ye sought David to reign over you;

Abner advised the elders of Israel, saying, "For some time you have wanted David to be king over you.

18 and now perform [it]: for the Lord has spoken concerning David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save Israel out of the hand of all their enemies.

Now then do it, for YHWH has spoken of David, saying, 'By the hand of my servant David, I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.'"

19 And Abenner spoke in the ears of Benjamin: and Abenner went to speak in the ears of David at Chebron, all that seemed good in the eyes of Israel and in the eyes of the house of Benjamin.

And Abner also spoke privately to the sons of Benjamin. And Abner also spoke privately to David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to the whole house of Benjamin.

20 And Abenner came to David to Chebron, and with him twenty men: and David made for Abenner and his men with him a banquet of wine.

So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast.

21 And Abenner said to David, I will arise now, and go, and gather to my lord the king all Israel; and I will make with him a covenant, and thou shalt reign over all whom thy soul desires. And David sent away Abenner, and he departed in peace.

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 you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires." David sent Abner away; and he left in peace.

22 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab arrived from their expedition, and they brought much spoil with them: and Abenner was not with David in Chebron, because he had sent him away, and he had departed in peace.

Look, the servants of David and Joab were returning from a raid, and brought in a great spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he left in peace.

23 And Joab and all his army came, and it was reported to Joab, saying, Abenner the son of Ner is come to David, and David has let him go, and he has departed in peace.

When Joab and all the army who was with him had come, they told Joab, saying, "Abner the son of Ner came to David, and he has sent him away, and he left in peace."

24 And Joab went in to the king, and said, What [is] this [that] thou hast done? behold, Abenner came to thee; and why hast thou let him go, and he has departed in peace?

Then Joab came to the king, and said, "What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away? Now he has gone.

25 Knowest thou not the mischief of Abenner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all things that thou doest?

You know the evil ways of Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do."

26 And Joab returned from David, and sent messengers to Abenner after [him]; and they bring him back from the well of Seiram: but David knew [it] not.

When Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know it.

27 And he brought back Abenner to Chebron, and Joab caused him to turn aside from the gate to speak to him, laying wait for him: and he smote him there in the loins, and he died for the blood of Asael the brother of Joab.

When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the abdomen, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

28 And David heard [of it] afterwards, and said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord even for ever of the blood of Abenner the son of Ner.

Afterward, when David heard it, he said, "I and my kingdom are guiltless before YHWH now and forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.

29 Let it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon all the house of his father; and let there not be wanting of the house of Joab one that has an issue, or a leper, or that leans on a staff, or that falls by the sword, or that wants bread.

May it whirl over the head of Joab, and on all his father's house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread."

30 For Joab and Abessa his brother laid wait continually for Abenner, because he slew Asael their brother at Gabaon in the battle.

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

31 And David said to Joab and to all the people with him, Rend your garments, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and lament before Abenner. And king David followed the bier.

David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner." And King David followed the coffin.

32 And they bury Abenner in Chebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at his tomb, and all the people wept for Abenner.

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 And the king mourned over Abenner, and said, Shall Abenner die according to the death of Nabal?

The king lamented for Abner, and said, "Should Abner die as a fool dies?

34 Thy hands were not bound, and thy feet [were] not [put] in fetters: [one] brought [thee] not near as Nabal; thou didst fall before children of iniquity.

Your hands were not bound in chains, your feet were not put into fetters. As a man falls before the ruthless, so you fell." All the people wept again over him.

35 And all the people assembled to weep for him. And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day: and David swore, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if I eat bread or any thing else before the sun goes down.

Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, "God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or anything else, until the sun goes down."

36 And all the people took notice, and all things that the king did before the people were pleasing in their sight.

All the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as whatever the king did pleased all the people.

37 So all the people and all Israel perceived in that day, that it was not of the king to slay Abenner the son of Ner.

So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner.

38 And the king said to his servants, Know ye not that a great prince is this day fallen in Israel?

The king said to his servants, "Do you not realize that a leader and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?

39 And that I am this day a [mere] kinsman [of his], and [as it were] a subject; but these men the sons of Saruia are too hard for me: the Lord reward the evil-doer according to his wickedness.

I am this day weak, though anointed king. And these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too brutal for me. May YHWH reward the evildoer according to his wickedness."