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

2 And there were sons born to David in Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

3 And his second was, Chileab, by Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third was, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

4 And the fourth was, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth was, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5 And the sixth was, Ithream, by Eglah David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6 And during the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner kept acquiring power in the house of Saul.

7 ¶ Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?

8 Then Abner became very angry over the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I, who in opposition to Judah continue to show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not allowed you to fall into the hand of David, a dog’s head, that you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman?

9 May God punish Abner, and more severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him;

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

11 And Ishbosheth could not say a word to Abner, because he feared him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Who controls the land? Make a deal with me, and I will help to bring all Israel over to you.

13 And David said, All right; I will make an agreement with you: but there is one thing I require of you, You will not see my face, unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal, when you first come to see me.

14 Then David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul’s son, saying, Return my wife Michal, whom I espoused for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

15 So Ishbosheth sent messengers, who took her from her second husband, Phaltiel the son of Laish.

16 But her husband went with her weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner told him to go back. And he went back.

17 And Abner sent word to the elders of Israel, saying, In the past you wanted David to be king over you:

18 Now carry it through: for the LORD has spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

19 Abner also addressed the people of Benjamin: and went to Hebron to tell David about what Israel, and the entire house of Benjamin, wanted to do.

20 So Abner came to David in Hebron, and twenty men came with him. And David threw a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.

21 And Abner said to David, I will go, and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make an agreement with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

22 ¶ Then the servants of David and Joab returned from a raid, bringing much spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

23 When Joab and the army that was with him arrived, Joab was told that Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he left in peace.

24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What have you done? look, Abner came to you; why did you send him away, now he is escaping?

25 You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, and to find out about your activities, and discover what you are doing.

26 And when Joab left David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah: but David did not know about it.

27 And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gateway to speak with him quietly, and there stabbed him in the stomach, so that he died, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel.

28 And later when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

29 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and may the house of Joab always have someone with running sores, or leprosy, a man with a crutch, one who falls by the sword, or someone starving.

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

31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, Tear your clothes, and wrap yourself with sackcloth, and mourn over Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.

32 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king wept loudly at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

33 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Should Abner die as a fool dies?

34 Your hands were not bound, or your feet placed in shackles: you fell like a man who falls at the hand of criminals. And all the people wept over him even more.

35 Then all the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was yet day, But David took an oath, saying, May God so do to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or anything else, before the sun is down.

36 And all the people noticed this, and it pleased them: even as everything the king did pleased all the people.

37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that the king did not want Abner the son of Ner killed.

38 And the king said to his servants, Do you not realize that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?

39 And I am powerless this day, though anointed king; these men the sons of Zeruiah are too fierce for me: may the LORD repay the doer of evil according to his wickedness.