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

1And long war will be between the house of Saul and between the house of David: and David went and was strengthened, and the house of Saul went and was weakened.

2And sons will be born to David in Hebron: and his firstborn will be Amnon to Ahinoam the Jezreelitess. 3And his second, Chileab, to Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom, son of Maacah, daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. 4And the fourth, Adonijah, son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah, the son of Abital. 5And the sixth, Ithream, to Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

Abner Joins David

6And it will be in there being war between the house of Saul and between the house of David, and Abner was strong for the house of Saul. 7And to Saul a concubine, and her name Rizpah, daughter of Aiah: and he will say to Abner, Wherefore wentest thou in to my father's concubine? 8And it will kindle to Abner greatly for the words of the man of shame, and he will say, Am I the head of a dog which against Judah this day will do mercy with the house of Saul thy father to his brethren and to his friends, and not delivering thee into the hand of David, and thou wilt review over me concerning the woman this day? 9Thus will God do to Abner, and thus will he add to him, for as Jehovah sware to David that thus I will do to him: 10To cause the kingdom to pass over from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan and even to the Well of the Oath. 11And he was not able to turn back Abner a word from his fearing him.

12And Abner will send messengers to David for his sake, saying, To whom the land? saying, Cut out thy covenant with me, and behold, my hand with thee to turn about to thee all Israel. 13And he will say, Good; I will cut out with thee a covenant: but one word I ask from thee, saying, Thou shalt not see my face if before thy bringing Michal, Saul's daughter, in thy coming to see my face. 14And David will send messengers to the man of shame, son of Saul, saying, Thou shalt give my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to me for a hundred uncircumcisions of the rovers. 15And the man of shame will send and take her from the man Phaltiel, son of Laish. 16And her husband went with her, going and weeping after her even to Bahurim. And Abner will say to him, Go, turn back And he will turn back.

17And a word of Abner was with the old men of Israel, saying, Also yesterday also the third day ye were seeking David for king over you. 18And now do; for Jehovah said to David, saying, By the hand of David my servant I saved my people from the hand of the rovers, and from the hand of all their enemies. 19And Abner will speak also in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner will also go to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all which was good in the eyes of Israel and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin.

20And Abner will come to David to Hebron, and with him twenty men: and David will make to Abner and to the men with him a drinking. 21And Abner will say to David, I will arise and go and gather to my lord the king, all Israel, and they shall cut out with thee a covenant, and thou didst reign over all that thy soul shall desire. And David will send away Abner, and he will go in peace.

Joab Murders Abner

22And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from the troop, and they brought with them much spoil: and Abner not with David in Hebron, for he sent him away, and he went in peace. 23And Joab and all the army which was with him came, and they will announce to Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he will send him away, and he will go in peace. 24And Joab will come to the king and he will say, What didst thou? behold, Abner came to thee; wherefore this thou sentest him away, and going, he went? 25Thou knewest Abner son of Ner, for to deceive thee he came, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all which thou doest.

26And Joab will go forth from David and send messengers after Abner, and they will turn him back from the Well of Sirah: and David knew not. 27And Abner will turn back to Hebron, and Joab will turn him away to the midst of the gate to speak with him in quiet, and he will strike him there in the belly, and he will die for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28And David will hear from after this, and he will say, I am innocent, and my kingdom, with Jehovah even forever, from the bloods of Abner son of Ner. 29It will stay upon the head of Joab and to all the house of his father; and there shall not be cut off from the house of Joab, him flowing, and the leprous, and him holding fast upon a staff, and him falling upon a sword, and him diminished in bread. 30And Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner because be slew Asahel their brother in Gibeon in war.

David Mourns for Abner

31And David will say to Joab and to all the people which were with him, Rend your garments and gird you with sack-cloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David went after the litter. 32And they will bury Abner in Hebron: and the king will lift up his voice and weep at the grave of Abner; and all the people will weep.

33And the king will lament for Abner, and he will say, As the fool died will Abner die?

34Thy hands not bound, and thy feet were not joined to fetters as falling before the sons of iniquity thou fellest. And all the people will add to weep over him.

35And all the people will come to cause David to eat bread, while yet day. And David will swear, saying, Thus will God do to me, and thus will he add, if before the going down of the sun I shall taste bread or anything. 36And all the people knew, and it will be good in their eyes, as all the king did was good in the eyes of all the people. 37And all the people knew, and all Israel, in that day, that it was not from the king to kill Abner son of Ner. 38And the king will say to his servants, Will ye not know that a chief and a great one fell this day in Israel? 39And I this day tender, and being anointed king; and these men sons of Zeruiah, hard for me. Jehovah will recompense to him doing evil according to his evil.