¹Now there was long war between Saul ’s house and David ’s house . David grew stronger and stronger , but Saul ’s house grew weaker and weaker .

²Sons were born to David in Hebron . His firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess ;

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

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

⁵and the sixth , Ithream , of Eglah , David ’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron .

⁶While there was war between Saul ’s house and David ’s house , Abner made himself strong in Saul ’s house .

⁷Now 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 ?”

⁸Then Abner was very angry about Ishbosheth’s words , and said , “Am I a dog ’s head that belongs to Judah ? Today I show kindness to your father Saul ’s house , to his brothers, and to his friends , and have not delivered you into the hand of David ; and yet you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman !

⁹God do so to Abner, and more also , if , as the LORD has sworn to David , I don’t do even so to him :

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

¹¹He could not answer Abner another word , because he was afraid of him .

¹²Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf , saying, “Whose is the land?” and saying, “Make your alliance with me , and behold , my hand will be with you to bring all Israel around to you .”

¹³David said , “Good . I will make a treaty with you , but one thing I require of you . That is , you will not see my face unless you first bring Michal , Saul ’s daughter , when you come to see my face .”

¹⁴David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul ’s son , saying, “Deliver me my wife Michal , whom I was given to marry for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines .”

¹⁵Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, Paltiel the son of Laish .

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

¹⁷Abner had communication with the elders of Israel , saying , “In times past , you sought for David to be king over you .

¹⁸Now then do it ! 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 .’”

¹⁹Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin ; and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin .

²⁰So Abner came to David to Hebron , and twenty men with him . David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast .

²¹Abner said to David , “I will arise and go , and will gather all Israel to my lord the king , that they may make a covenant with you , and that you may reign over all that your soul desires.” David sent Abner away ; and he went in peace .

²²Behold , David ’s servants and Joab came from a raid and brought in a great plunder with them ; but Abner was not with David in Hebron , for he had sent him away , and he had gone in peace .

²³When Joab and all the army who was with him had come , they told Joab , “Abner the son of Ner came to the king , and he has sent him away , and he has gone in peace .”

²⁴Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done ? Behold , Abner came to you . Why is it that you have sent him away , and he is already gone ?

²⁵You know Abner the son of Ner . He came to deceive you , and to know your going out and your coming in , and to know all that you do .”

²⁶When Joab had come out from David , he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah ; but David didn’t know it .

²⁷When Abner had returned to Hebron , Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him quietly , and struck him there in the body , so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother.

²⁸Afterward, when David heard it , he said , “I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner .

²⁹Let it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house . Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge , or who is a leper , or who leans on a staff , or who falls by the sword , or who lacks bread .”

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

³¹David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him , “Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth , and mourn in front of Abner.” King David followed the bier .

³²They buried Abner in Hebron ; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at Abner’s grave ; and all the people wept .

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

³⁴Your hands weren’t bound, and your feet weren’t put into fetters . As a man falls before the children of iniquity , so you fell .”

All the people wept again over him .

³⁵All the people came to urge David to eat bread while it was yet day ; but David swore , saying, “God do so to me , and more also , if I taste bread or anything else , until the sun goes down .”

³⁶All the people took notice of it , and it pleased them , as whatever the king did pleased all the people .

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

³⁸The king said to his servants , “Don’t you know that a prince and a great man has fallen today in Israel ?

³⁹I am weak today , though anointed king . These men , the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me . May the LORD reward the evildoer according to his wickedness .”