1 There|strong="H1961" was|strong="H1961" war|strong="H4421" for|strong="H1004" a|strong="H1961" long|strong="H0752" time|strong="H1961" between|strong="H0996" Saul’s|strong="H7586" family|strong="H1004" and|strong="H1980" David’s|strong="H1732" family|strong="H1004". David|strong="H1732" became|strong="H1961" stronger|strong="H2390" and|strong="H1980" stronger|strong="H2390", but|strong="H1961" Saul’s|strong="H7586" family|strong="H1004" became|strong="H1961" weaker|strong="H1800" and|strong="H1980" weaker|strong="H1800".
2 These are|strong="H1121" David’s|strong="H1732" sons|strong="H1121" who|strong="H1121" were|strong="H1961" born|strong="H3205" at|strong="H1732" Hebron|strong="H2275":
3 The|strong="H1121" second|strong="H4932" son|strong="H1121" was|strong="H4428" Kileab. His|strong="H4428" mother was|strong="H4428" Abigail|strong="H0026", who|strong="H1121" had|strong="H4428" been the|strong="H1121" wife|strong="H0802" of|strong="H1121" Nabal|strong="H5037" from|strong="H1121" Carmel.
4 The|strong="H1121" fourth|strong="H7243" son|strong="H1121" was|strong="H1121" Adonijah|strong="H0138". Adonijah’s|strong="H0138" mother was|strong="H1121" Haggith|strong="H2294".
5 The|strong="H3205" sixth|strong="H8345" son was|strong="H1732" Ithream|strong="H3507". Ithream’s mother was|strong="H1732" David’s|strong="H1732" wife|strong="H0802" Eglah|strong="H5698".
6 As|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0996" families|strong="H1004" of|strong="H1004" Saul|strong="H7586" and|strong="H1004" David|strong="H1732" fought each other, Abner|strong="H0074" became|strong="H1961" more and|strong="H1004" more powerful|strong="H2388" in|strong="H1004" Saul’s|strong="H7586" army|strong="H4421".
7 Saul|strong="H7586" had|strong="H0001" a|strong="H0935" slave woman|strong="H1323" named|strong="H8034" Rizpah|strong="H7532" daughter|strong="H1323" of|strong="H1323" Aiah|strong="H0345". Ish Bosheth said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Abner|strong="H0074", “Why|strong="H4069" did|strong="H4069" you|strong="H0935" have|strong="H0001" sexual relations|strong="H0413" with|strong="H0413" my|strong="H0935" father’s|strong="H0001" servant woman|strong="H1323"?”
8 This|strong="H1697" made|strong="H6213" Abner|strong="H0074" very|strong="H3966" angry|strong="H2734". He|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0559", “I|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" been|strong="H0834" loyal|strong="H2617" to|strong="H0413" Saul|strong="H7586" and|strong="H3063" his|strong="H5921" family|strong="H1004". I|strong="H0834" did|strong="H6213" not|strong="H3808" give you|strong="H0834" to|strong="H0413" David|strong="H1732". I|strong="H0834" am|strong="H0595" not|strong="H3808" a|strong="H4672" traitor working for|strong="H5921" Judah|strong="H3063". But|strong="H3808" now|strong="H3117" you|strong="H0834" are|strong="H0834" saying|strong="H0559" that|strong="H0834" I|strong="H0834" did|strong="H6213" this|strong="H1697" bad thing|strong="H1697".
11 Ish Bosheth was|strong="H1697" too|strong="H5750" afraid|strong="H3372" of|strong="H1697" Abner|strong="H0074" to|strong="H7725" say|strong="H1697" anything|strong="H1697" in|strong="H1697" response.
12 Abner|strong="H0074" sent|strong="H7971" messengers|strong="H4397" to|strong="H0413" David|strong="H1732" and|strong="H3478" said|strong="H0559", “Who|strong="H4310" do|strong="H4310" you|strong="H3605" think|strong="H0559" should|strong="H0559" rule|strong="H3027" this|strong="H3605" country|strong="H0776"? Make|strong="H3772" an|strong="H7971" agreement|strong="H1285" with|strong="H5973" me|strong="H0413", and|strong="H3478" I|strong="H2009" will|strong="H4310" help you|strong="H3605" become the|strong="H3605" ruler of|strong="H0776" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H0776" of|strong="H0776" Israel|strong="H3478".”
13 David answered|strong="H0559", “Good|strong="H2896"! I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H1697" make|strong="H3772" an|strong="H7200" agreement|strong="H1285" with|strong="H0854" you|strong="H3588". But|strong="H3588" I|strong="H0589" ask|strong="H7592" you|strong="H3588" only|strong="H0389" one|strong="H0259" thing|strong="H1697": I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H1697" not|strong="H3808" meet|strong="H6440" with|strong="H0854" you|strong="H3588" until you|strong="H3588" bring|strong="H0935" Saul’s|strong="H7586" daughter|strong="H1323" Michal|strong="H4324" to|strong="H0559" me|strong="H6440".”
14 David|strong="H1732" sent|strong="H7971" messengers|strong="H4397" to|strong="H0413" Saul’s|strong="H7586" son|strong="H1121" Ish Bosheth. David|strong="H1732" said|strong="H0559", “Give|strong="H5414" me|strong="H0413" my|strong="H5414" wife|strong="H0802" Michal|strong="H4324". She|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" promised|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413". I|strong="H0834" killed 100 Philistines|strong="H6430" to|strong="H0413" get|strong="H7971" her|strong="H0413".”
15 Then|strong="H3947" Ish Bosheth told the|strong="H3947" men|strong="H0376" to|strong="H7971" go|strong="H7971" and|strong="H1121" take|strong="H3947" Michal from|strong="H0376" a|strong="H3947" man|strong="H0376" named Paltiel|strong="H6409" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Laish.
16 Michal’s husband|strong="H0376", Paltiel, followed|strong="H0310" them|strong="H0413", crying|strong="H1058" all|strong="H5704" the|strong="H0559" way|strong="H1980" to|strong="H0413" Bahurim|strong="H0980". Finally|strong="H5704", Abner|strong="H0074" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413", “Go|strong="H1980" back|strong="H7725" home|strong="H7725".” So|strong="H1980" Paltiel went|strong="H1980" back|strong="H7725" home|strong="H7725".
17 Abner|strong="H0074" sent|strong="H0559" this|strong="H1697" message|strong="H1697" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0853" leaders|strong="H2205" of|strong="H4428" Israel|strong="H3478". He|strong="H1732" said|strong="H0559", “For|strong="H5921" a|strong="H1961" long time|strong="H1961" you|strong="H5921" have|strong="H1961" wanted|strong="H1245" to|strong="H0559" make David|strong="H1732" your|strong="H5921" king|strong="H4428".
18 Now|strong="H6258" do|strong="H6213" it|strong="H3588"! The|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" was|strong="H3068" talking about|strong="H0413" David|strong="H1732" when|strong="H3588" he|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559", ‘I|strong="H3588" will|strong="H3068" save|strong="H3467" my|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" from|strong="H3478" the|strong="H3605" Philistines|strong="H6430" and|strong="H3068" all|strong="H3605" their|strong="H3605" other|strong="H3605" enemies|strong="H0341". I|strong="H3588" will|strong="H3068" do|strong="H6213" this|strong="H6258" through|strong="H3027" my|strong="H3605" servant|strong="H5650" David|strong="H1732".’”
19 Abner|strong="H0074" said|strong="H1696" these|strong="H1696" things|strong="H3605" to|strong="H1696" David|strong="H1732" in|strong="H1004" Hebron|strong="H2275", and|strong="H3478" he|strong="H0834" said|strong="H1696" these|strong="H1696" things|strong="H3605" to|strong="H1696" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H0834" of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H3605" tribe of|strong="H1004" Benjamin|strong="H1144". The|strong="H3605" things|strong="H3605" Abner|strong="H0074" said|strong="H1696" sounded good|strong="H2896" to|strong="H1696" the|strong="H3605" tribe of|strong="H1004" Benjamin|strong="H1144" and|strong="H3478" to|strong="H1696" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H0834" of|strong="H1004" Israel|strong="H3478".
20 Then|strong="H0935" Abner|strong="H0074" came|strong="H0935" up|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" David|strong="H1732" at|strong="H0413" Hebron|strong="H2275". Abner|strong="H0074" brought|strong="H0935" 20 men|strong="H0376" with|strong="H0854" him|strong="H0413". David|strong="H1732" gave|strong="H6213" a|strong="H0935" party for|strong="H0413" Abner|strong="H0074" and|strong="H0935" for|strong="H0413" all|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0834" men|strong="H0376" who|strong="H0834" came|strong="H0935" with|strong="H0854" him|strong="H0413".
21 Abner|strong="H0074" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" David|strong="H1732", “My|strong="H3605" lord|strong="H0113" and|strong="H6965" king|strong="H4428", let|strong="H7971" me|strong="H0413" go|strong="H7971" bring all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H0834". Then|strong="H6965" they|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" make|strong="H3772" an|strong="H6965" agreement|strong="H1285" with|strong="H0854" you|strong="H0834", and|strong="H6965" you|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" rule|strong="H4428" over|strong="H0413" all|strong="H3605" Israel|strong="H3478", as|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0834" wanted.”
22 Joab|strong="H3097" and|strong="H0935" David’s|strong="H1732" officers|strong="H5650" came|strong="H0935" back|strong="H0935" from|strong="H0935" battle. They|strong="H3588" had|strong="H1732" many|strong="H7227" valuable things|strong="H5973" that|strong="H3588" they|strong="H3588" had|strong="H1732" taken from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3588" enemy. David|strong="H1732" had|strong="H1732" just let|strong="H7971" Abner|strong="H0074" leave in|strong="H0935" peace|strong="H7965". So|strong="H7971" Abner|strong="H0074" was|strong="H0369" not|strong="H0369" there|strong="H0369" in|strong="H0935" Hebron|strong="H2275" with|strong="H5973" David|strong="H1732".
23 Joab|strong="H3097" and|strong="H1121" all|strong="H3605" his|strong="H3605" army|strong="H6635" arrived|strong="H0935" at|strong="H0413" Hebron. The|strong="H3605" army|strong="H6635" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Joab|strong="H3097", “Abner|strong="H0074" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ner|strong="H5369" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" King|strong="H4428" David|strong="H7971", and|strong="H1121" David|strong="H7971" let|strong="H7971" Abner|strong="H0074" leave in|strong="H0935" peace|strong="H7965".”
24 Joab|strong="H3097" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" and|strong="H1980" said|strong="H0559", “What|strong="H4100" have|strong="H4428" you|strong="H7971" done|strong="H6213"? Abner|strong="H0074" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H7971", but|strong="H2009" you|strong="H7971" sent|strong="H7971" him|strong="H0413" away|strong="H7971" without hurting him|strong="H0413"! Why|strong="H4100"?
25 You|strong="H0859" know|strong="H3045" Abner|strong="H0074" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ner|strong="H5369". He|strong="H0834" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" trick you|strong="H0859". He|strong="H0834" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" learn|strong="H3045" all|strong="H3605" about|strong="H3045" what|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0859" are|strong="H0834" doing|strong="H6213".”
26 Joab|strong="H3097" left|strong="H3318" David|strong="H1732" and|strong="H7725" sent|strong="H7971" messengers|strong="H4397" to|strong="H7725" Abner|strong="H0074" at|strong="H1732" the|strong="H0853" well|strong="H3045" of|strong="H4397" Sirah|strong="H5626". The|strong="H0853" messengers|strong="H4397" brought|strong="H3318" Abner|strong="H0074" back|strong="H7725", but|strong="H3808" David|strong="H1732" did|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" know|strong="H3045" this|strong="H3045".
27 When|strong="H1696" Abner|strong="H0074" arrived at|strong="H0413" Hebron|strong="H2275", Joab|strong="H3097" met him|strong="H0413" in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0413" gateway|strong="H8179", pulled him|strong="H0413" aside|strong="H5186" to|strong="H0413" talk|strong="H1696" in|strong="H0413" private, and|strong="H7725" then|strong="H1696" stabbed|strong="H5221" him|strong="H0413" in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0413" stomach. So|strong="H7725" he|strong="H8033" got his|strong="H7725" revenge against|strong="H0413" Abner|strong="H0074". Joab|strong="H3097" killed|strong="H5221" Abner|strong="H0074" because|strong="H0413" Abner|strong="H0074" had|strong="H3097" killed|strong="H5221" Joab’s|strong="H3097" brother|strong="H0251" Asahel|strong="H6214".
28 Later|strong="H0310" David|strong="H1732" heard|strong="H8085" the|strong="H0559" news|strong="H0559" and|strong="H1121" said|strong="H0559", “My|strong="H8085" kingdom|strong="H4467" and|strong="H1121" I|strong="H0595" are|strong="H3068" innocent|strong="H5355" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0559" death|strong="H1818" of|strong="H1121" Abner|strong="H0074" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ner|strong="H5369". The|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" knows this|strong="H3651".
29 Joab|strong="H3097" and|strong="H1004" his|strong="H3605" family|strong="H1004" are|strong="H1004" responsible|strong="H7218" for|strong="H5921" this|strong="H3605", and|strong="H1004" they|strong="H5921" will|strong="H2719" be|strong="H0408" cursed. Many troubles will|strong="H2719" come|strong="H5307" to|strong="H0413" his|strong="H3605" family|strong="H1004". His|strong="H3605" people|strong="H0408" will|strong="H2719" be|strong="H0408" sick with|strong="H0413" leprosy, crippled, killed|strong="H2719" in|strong="H5921" war|strong="H2719", and|strong="H1004" not|strong="H0408" have|strong="H0001" enough food|strong="H3899" to|strong="H0413" eat!”
30 Joab|strong="H3097" and|strong="H0251" his|strong="H5921" brother|strong="H0251" Abishai|strong="H0052" killed|strong="H2026" Abner|strong="H0074" because|strong="H5921" Abner|strong="H0074" had|strong="H0834" killed|strong="H2026" their|strong="H5921" brother|strong="H0251" Asahel|strong="H6214" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" battle|strong="H4421" at|strong="H5921" Gibeon|strong="H1391".
33 King|strong="H4428" David sang this sad song at|strong="H0413" Abner’s|strong="H0074" funeral:
34 Abner, your|strong="H3605" hands|strong="H3027" were|strong="H1121" not|strong="H3808" tied|strong="H0631".
35 All|strong="H3605" day|strong="H3117" long|strong="H3117" people|strong="H5971" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0559" encourage David|strong="H1732" to|strong="H0559" eat|strong="H1262" food|strong="H3899". But|strong="H3588" David|strong="H1732" had|strong="H0430" made|strong="H6213" a|strong="H3588" special promise|strong="H7650". He|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559", “May|strong="H0430" God|strong="H0430" punish me|strong="H6440" and|strong="H0935" give|strong="H3254" me|strong="H6440" many troubles if|strong="H0518" I|strong="H3588" eat|strong="H1262" bread|strong="H3899" or|strong="H0176" any|strong="H3605" other|strong="H5750" food|strong="H3899" before|strong="H6440" the|strong="H3605" sun|strong="H8121" goes|strong="H0935" down|strong="H6440".”
36 All|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" saw what|strong="H0834" happened, and|strong="H4428" they|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" pleased|strong="H3190" with|strong="H3605" what|strong="H0834" King|strong="H4428" David had|strong="H0834" done|strong="H6213".
37 All|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" of|strong="H1121" Judah and|strong="H1121" Israel|strong="H3478" understood|strong="H3045" that|strong="H3588" King|strong="H4428" David|strong="H3117" had|strong="H1961" not|strong="H3808" killed|strong="H4191" Abner|strong="H0074" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ner|strong="H5369".
38 King|strong="H4428" David|strong="H3117" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" his|strong="H3588" officers|strong="H8269", “You|strong="H3588" know|strong="H3045" that|strong="H3588" a|strong="H3588" very|strong="H2088" important|strong="H1419" leader|strong="H8269" died|strong="H5307" today|strong="H3117" in|strong="H0413" Israel|strong="H3478".
39 And|strong="H1121" it|strong="H6213" was|strong="H3068" on|strong="H3117" the|strong="H4480" very same|strong="H0428" day|strong="H3117" that|strong="H3117" I|strong="H0595" was|strong="H3068" anointed|strong="H4886" to|strong="H3068" be|strong="H0376" the|strong="H4480" king|strong="H4428". These|strong="H0428" sons|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Zeruiah|strong="H6870" have|strong="H0376" caused me|strong="H4480" a|strong="H4480" lot of|strong="H1121" trouble|strong="H7451". May|strong="H0376" the|strong="H4480" LORD|strong="H3068" give|strong="H7186" them|strong="H4480" the|strong="H4480" punishment they|strong="H3117" deserve|strong="H0376".”