2 Samuel 3

1 Now there was a long *1 Sam. 20:6war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

Sons of David

2 Sons were born *1 Kin. 14:30; (Ps. 46:9)to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon *1 Chr. 3:1–4by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third, *1 Sam. 25:42, 43Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king *2 Sam. 15:1–10of Geshur; 4 the fourth, *Josh. 13:13; 1 Sam. 27:8; 2 Sam. 13:37; 14:32; 15:8Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5 and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.

Abner Joins Forces with David

6 Now it was so, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was strengthening hishold on the house of Saul.

7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was*1 Kin. 1:5Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, "Why have you *2 Sam. 21:8–11gone in to my father’s concubine?"

8 Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, "Am I *2 Sam. 16:21a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show 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 you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman? 9 *Deut. 23:18; 1 Sam. 24:14; 2 Sam. 9:8; 16:9May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David *Ruth 1:17; 1 Kin. 19:2as the Lord has sworn to him— 10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, *1 Sam. 15:28; 16:1, 12; 28:17; 1 Chr. 12:23from Dan to Beersheba." 11 And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying, "Whose is the land?" saying also, "Make your covenant with me, and indeed my hand shallbe with you to bring all Israel to you."

13 And David said, "Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: *Judg. 20:1; 1 Sam. 3:20; 2 Sam. 17:11; 1 Kin. 4:25you shall not see my face unless you first bring *Gen. 43:3Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face." 14 So David sent messengers to *1 Sam. 18:20; 19:11; 25:44; 2 Sam. 6:16Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself *2 Sam. 2:10for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines." 15 And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 Then her husband went along with her to *1 Sam. 18:25–27Bahurim, weeping behind her. So Abner said to him, "Go, return!" And he returned.

17 Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, "In time past you were seeking for David tobe king over you. 18 Now then, do it!*2 Sam. 16:5; 19:16For 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 the hand of all their enemies.’ " 19 And Abner also spoke in the hearing of *2 Sam. 3:9Benjamin. Then Abner also went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.

20 So 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. 21 Then Abner said to David, "I will arise and go, and *1 Sam. 10:20, 21; 1 Chr. 12:29gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may *2 Sam. 3:10, 12reign over all that your heart desires." So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

Joab Murders Abner

22 At that moment 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. 23 When Joab and all the troops that were with him had come, they told Joab, saying, "Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he has gone in peace." 24 Then Joab came to the king and said, "What have you done? Look, Abner came to you; why is it that you sent him away, and he has already gone? 25 Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to know *1 Kin. 11:37your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing."

26 And when Joab had gone from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it.27 Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab *Deut. 28:6; 1 Sam. 29:6; Is. 37:28took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there stabbed him *2 Sam. 20:9, 10; 1 Kin. 2:5in the stomach, so that he died for the blood of *2 Sam. 4:6Asahel his brother.

28 Afterward, when David heard it, he said, "My kingdom and I are guiltless before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 *2 Sam. 2:23Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one *Deut. 21:6–9; 1 Kin. 2:32, 33who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread." 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother *Lev. 15:2Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

David’s Mourning for Abner

31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, *2 Sam. 2:23"Tear your clothes, *Josh. 7:6; 2 Sam. 1:2, 11gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner." And King David followed the coffin. 32 So 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 sang alament over Abner and said:

"Should Abner die as a *Gen. 37:34fool dies?

34 Your hands were not bound

Nor your feet put into fetters;

As a man falls before wicked men, so you fell."

Then all the people wept over him again.

35 And when all the people came *2 Sam. 13:12, 13to persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, *2 Sam. 12:17; Jer. 16:7, 8"God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else *Ruth 1:17till the sun goes down!" 36 Now all the people took note ofit, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did pleased all the people. 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s intent to kill Abner the son of Ner. 38 Then the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39 And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, *Judg. 20:26; 2 Sam. 1:12are too harsh for me. *2 Sam. 19:5–7The Lord shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness."