The House of David Strengthened
(1 Chronicles 3:1–9)

1And there was a long war between the house of Saul and between the house of David. And David was going on and was strong, and the house of Saul was going on and was weak.

2And Sons were born to David in Hebron:

And his firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

3and his second Chileab,† by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite;

and the third, Absalom son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

4and the fourth, Adonijah son of Haggith;

and the fifth, Shephatiah son of Abital;

5and the sixth, Ithream by Eglah wife of David.

These were born to David in Hebron.

Abner Joins David

6And it surely came to pass in the war between the house of Saul and between the house of David, that Abner had been strengthening himself in the house of Saul. 7And Saul had a concubine, and her name was Rizpah the daughter of Aiah. And he said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to the concubine of my father?”

8And Abner became very hot at the words of Ish-bosheth, and he said, “Is it that the head of a dog I am that is unto Judah? This day I am doing kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and I have not delivered you into the hand of David—and you charge me with iniquity concerning the woman today? 9Thus may God do to Abner, and also more to him, if as YHWH has sworn for David, even so I do not do 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 even to Beersheba.”

11And he could not anymore answer to Abner a word, because he feared him.

12And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “To whom is the land?” And saying, “Make your covenant with me, and indeed my hand is with you to make turn to you all Israel.”

13And he said, “Good, I will cut with you a covenant. But one thing I am asking of you, saying, you shall not see my face, except if to my face you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see my face.”

14And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, saying, “Give to me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”

15And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel† son of Laish. 16And her husband went along with her, weeping behind her to Bahurim. And Abner said to him, “Go, turn back.” And he turned back.

17And the word of Abner was with the elders of Israel, saying, “Even before also heretofore you⁺ were seeking David for king over you⁺. 18And now do it, for YHWH has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of David My servant I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’”

19And Abner spoke also in the ears of Benjamin. And Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good in the eyes of Israel and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin. 20And Abner came to David at Hebron, and with him twenty men, and David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.

21And Abner said to David, “I will arise and go and gather to my lord the king all Israel, that they may cut with you a covenant, that you may reign over all that Your heart desires.”

And David sent away Abner, and he went in peace.

Joab Murders Abner

22And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from the troop, and much spoil they brought with them. And Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23And Joab and all the troops that were with him had come, and they told Joab, saying, “Abner son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he has gone in peace.”

24And Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you! Why is this that you sent him away, and he is long gone? 25You have known Abner 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 are doing.”

26And Joab had gone from David, and he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; and David did not know it.

27And Abner had returned to Hebron, and Joab took him to the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and he struck him there in the stomach, and he died on account of the blood of Asah-el his brother.

28And David heard it after thus, and he said, “I and My kingdom are guiltless before YHWH, even to forever, of the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all the house of his father, and never let there fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or falls by the sword, or is lacking bread.”

30(And Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, upon that he had killed Asahel their brother at Gibeon in the battle.)

David Mourns for Abner

31And David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your⁺ clothes, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before the face of Abner.” And King David followed after the bier.

32And they buried Abner in Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner. And all the people wept. 33And the king lamented over Abner and said,

“As the death of a fool

should Abner die?

34Your hands were not bound,

nor your feet put into fetters.

As a man falls before the face of wicked men,

you fell.”

And all the people again wept over him.

35And all the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was still the day, and David took an oath, saying, “So do to me God, and thus may he continue for, if before the face of the sun goes down, I taste bread or any other thing.”

36And all the people took note, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did was good in the eyes of all the people. 37For all the people and all Israel understood that on that day it was not from the king to kill Abner son of Ner.

38And the king said to his servants, “Do you⁺ not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39And I am weak today, and though anointed king, these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me; YHWH shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”