1 وكانت الحرب طويلة بين بيت شاول وبيت داود وكان داود يذهب يتقوى وبيت شاول يذهب يضعف.2 وولد لداود بنون في حبرون. وكان بكره امنون من اخينوعم اليزرعيلية.3 وثانيه كيلآب من ابيجايل امرأة نابال الكرملي. والثالث ابشالوم ابن معكة بنت تلماي ملك جشور.4 والرابع ادونيا ابن حجيث. والخامس شفطيا ابن ابيطال.5 والسادس يثرعام من عجلة امرأة داود. هؤلاء ولدوا لداود في حبرون6 وكان في وقوع الحرب بين بيت شاول وبيت داود ان ابنير تشدد لاجل بيت شاول.7 وكانت لشاول سرية اسمها رصفة بنت أيّة. فقال ايشبوشث لابنير لماذا دخلت الى سرية ابي.8 فاغتاظ ابنير جدا من كلام ايشبوشث وقال ألعلي راس كلب ليهوذا. أليوم اصنع معروفا مع بيت شاول ابيك مع اخوته ومع اصحابه ولم اسلمك ليد داود وتطالبني اليوم باثم المرأة.9 هكذا يصنع الله بابنير وهكذا يزيده انه كما حلف الرب لداود كذلك اصنع له10 لنقل المملكة من بيت شاول واقامة كرسي داود على اسرائيل وعلى يهوذا من دان الى بئر سبع.11 ولم يقدر بعد ان يجاوب ابنير بكلمة لاجل خوفه منه12 فارسل ابنير من فوره رسلا الى داود قائلا لمن هي الارض. يقولون اقطع عهدك معي وهوذا يدي معك لرد جميع اسرائيل اليك.13 فقال حسنا. انا اقطع معك عهدا الا اني اطلب منك أمرا واحدا وهو ان لا ترى وجهي ما لم تأت اولا بميكال بنت شاول حين تأتي لترى وجهي.14 وارسل داود رسلا الى ايشبوشث بن شاول يقول اعطني امرأتي ميكال التي خطبتها لنفسي بمئة غلفة من الفلسطينيين.15 فارسل ايشبوشث واخذها من عند رجلها من فلطيئيل بن لايش.16 وكان رجلها يسير معها ويبكي وراءها الى بحوريم. فقال له ابنير اذهب. ارجع. فرجع17 وكان كلام ابنير الى شيوخ اسرائيل قائلا قد كنتم منذ امس وما قبله تطلبون داود ليكون ملكا عليكم.18 فالآن افعلوا. لان الرب كلم داود قائلا اني بيد داود عبدي اخلّص شعبي اسرائيل من يد الفلسطينيين ومن ايدي جميع اعدائهم.19 وتكلم ابنير ايضا في مسامع بنيامين وذهب ابنير ليتكلم في سماع داود ايضا في حبرون بكل ما حسن في اعين اسرائيل وفي اعين جميع بيت بنيامين.20 فجاء ابنير الى داود الى حبرون ومعه عشرون رجلا. فصنع داود لابنير وللرجال الذين معه وليمة.21 وقال ابنير لداود اقوم واذهب واجمع الى سيدي الملك جميع اسرائيل فيقطعون معك عهدا وتملك حسب كل ما تشتهي نفسك. فارسل داود ابنير فذهب بسلام22 واذا بعبيد داود ويوآب قد جاءوا من الغزو وأتوا بغنيمة كثيرة معهم ولم يكن ابنير مع داود في حبرون لانه كان قد ارسله فذهب بسلام.23 وجاء يوآب وكل الجيش الذي معه فاخبروا يوآب قائلين قد جاء ابنير بن نير الى الملك فارسله فذهب بسلام.24 فدخل يوآب الى الملك وقال ماذا فعلت. هوذا قد جاء ابنير اليك. لماذا ارسلته فذهب.25 انت تعلم ابنير بن نير انه انما جاء ليملقك وليعلم خروجك ودخولك وليعلم كل ما تصنع.26 ثم خرج يوآب من عند داود وارسل رسلا وراء ابنير فردّوه من بئر السيرة وداود لا يعلم.27 ولما رجع ابنير الى حبرون مال به يوآب الى وسط الباب ليكلمه سرّا وضربه هناك في بطنه فمات بدم عسائيل اخيه.28 فسمع داود بعد ذلك فقال اني بريء انا ومملكتي لدى الرب الى الابد من دم ابنير بن نير.29 فليحل على راس يوآب وعلى كل بيت ابيه ولا ينقطع من بيت يوآب ذو سيل وابرص وعاكز على العكازة وساقط بالسيف ومحتاج الخبز.30 فقتل يوآب وابيشاي اخوه ابنير لانه قتل عسائيل اخاهما في جبعون في الحرب31 فقال داود ليوآب ولجميع الشعب الذين معه مزقوا ثيابكم وتنطّقوا بالمسوح والطموا امام ابنير. وكان داود الملك يمشي وراء النعش.32 ودفنوا ابنير في حبرون. ورفع الملك صوته وبكى على قبر ابنير وبكى جميع الشعب.33 ورثا الملك ابنير وقال هل كموت احمق يموت ابنير.34 يداك لم تكونا مربوطتين ورجلاك لم توضعا في سلاسل نحاس. كالسقوط امام بني الاثم سقطت. وعاد جميع الشعب يبكون عليه.35 وجاء جميع الشعب ليطعموا داود خبزا وكان بعد نهار فحلف داود قائلا هكذا يفعل لي الله وهكذا يزيد ان كنت اذوق خبزا او شيئا آخر قبل غروب الشمس.36 فعرف جميع الشعب وحسن في اعينهم كما ان كل ما صنع الملك كان حسنا في اعين جميع الشعب.37 وعلم كل الشعب وجميع اسرائيل في ذلك اليوم انه لم يكن من الملك قتل ابنير بن نير.38 وقال الملك لعبيده ألا تعلمون ان رئيسا وعظيما سقط اليوم في اسرائيل.39 وانا اليوم ضعيف وممسوح ملكا وهؤلاء الرجال بنو صروية اقوى مني. يجازي الرب فاعل الشرّ كشرّه

1 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.2 And to David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;3 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David' 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 Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Why have you gone in to my father' concubine?8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog' head, which against Judah do show kindness this day to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David, that you charge me to day with a fault concerning this woman?9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD has sworn to David, even so I do to him;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 Beersheba.11 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make your league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with you, to bring about all Israel to you.13 And he said, Well; I will make a league with you: but one thing I require of you, that is, You shall not see my face, except you first bring Michal Saul' daughter, when you come to see my face.14 And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul' son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner to him, Go, return. And he returned.17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, You sought for David in times past to be king over you:18 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 out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.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 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.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 league with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.22 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.23 When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, 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 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What have you done? behold, Abner came to you; why is it that you have sent him away, and he is quite gone?25 You know 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 when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.28 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:29 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father' 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 on the sword, or that lacks bread.30 So Joab, and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.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 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dies?34 Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters: as a man falls before wicked men, so fell you. And all the people wept again over him.35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David swore, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatever the king did pleased all the people.37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.38 And the king said to his servants, Know you not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?39 And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.