1Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam from Jezreel.

3His second son, Kileab, was born to Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. The third, Absalom, was son of Maacah, daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.

4David's fourth son, Adonijah, was the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah son of Abital,

5and the sixth, Ithream, was the son of David's wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron.

6It came about during the war between the house of Saul and the house of David that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul.

7Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you slept with my father's concubine?”

8Then Abner was very angry at the words of Ishbosheth and said, “Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? Today I am showing faithfulness to the house of Saul, your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, by not delivering you into the hand of David. But now you accuse me of an offense concerning this woman?

9May God do so to me, Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David as Yahweh has sworn to him,

10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”

11Ishbosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

12Then Abner sent messengers to David to speak for him saying, “Whose land is this? Make a covenant with me, and you will see that my hand is with you, to bring all Israel to you.”

13David answered, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require from you is that you cannot see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see me.”

14Then David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul's son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, for whom I paid a price of one hundred Philistine foreskins.”

15So Ishbosheth sent for Michal and took her from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish.

16Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Return home now.” So he returned.

17Abner spoke with the elders of Israel saying, “In the past you were trying to have David be king over you.

18Now do it. For Yahweh 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.'”

19Abner also spoke personally to the people of Benjamin. Then Abner went also to speak with David in Hebron to explain everything that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin desired to accomplish.

20When Abner and twenty of his men arrived in Hebron to see David, David had a feast prepared for them.

21Abner explained to David, “I will arise and gather all Israel to you, my master the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, so that you may reign over all that you desire.” So David sent Abner away, and Abner left in peace.

22Then the soldiers of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much plunder with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron. David had sent him away, and Abner had left in peace.

23When Joab and all the army with him arrived, they told Joab, “Abner son of Ner came to the king, and the king has sent him away, and Abner left in peace.”

24Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you! Why have you sent him away, and he is gone?

25Do you not know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to discover your plans and learn everything you are doing?”

26When Joab left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah, but David did not know this.

27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the middle of the gate to speak with him quietly. There Joab stabbed him in the stomach and killed him. In this way, Joab avenged the blood of Asahel his brother.

28When David heard about this he said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before Yahweh forever regarding the blood of Abner son of Ner.

29Let the guilt of Abner's death fall on the head of Joab and on all his father's house. May there never fail to be in the family of Joab someone who has a flowing sore or skin disease or who is lame and must walk with a staff or who is killed by the sword or who goes without food.”

30So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in battle.

31David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner's body.” Now King David walked behind the body in the funeral procession.

32They buried Abner in Hebron. The king wept and cried loudly at the tomb of Abner, and all the people also wept.

33The king lamented for Abner and sang, “Should Abner die as a fool dies?

34Your hands were not bound.
Your feet were not shackled. As a man falls before the sons of injustice, so you have fallen.” Once more all the people wept over him.

35All the people came to make David eat while it was still day, but David swore, “May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down.”

36All the people took notice of David's grief, and it pleased them, as whatever the king did pleased them.

37So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not the king's desire to kill Abner son of Ner.

38The king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?

39Now I am weak today, though I am an anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too brutal for me. May Yahweh repay the evildoer by punishing him for his wickedness, as he deserves.”