Joab Kills Abner

3 Now there was a long ^(A)war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

Sons of David

² Sons were born ^(B)to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon ^(C)by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; ³ his second, ^[a]Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third, ^(D)Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king ^(E)of Geshur; ⁴ the fourth, ^(F)Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; ⁵ and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.

Abner Joins Forces with David

⁶ Now it was so, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul.

⁷ And Saul had a concubine, whose name was ^(G)Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you ^(H)gone in to my father’s concubine?”

⁸ Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, “Am I ^(I)a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman? ^9 (J)May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David ^(K)as the Lord has sworn to him— ¹⁰ to transfer the kingdom from the ^[b]house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, ^(L)from Dan to Beersheba.” ¹¹ And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

¹² Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying, “Whose is the land?” saying also, “Make your covenant with me, and indeed my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel to you.”

¹³ And David said, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: ^(M)you shall not see my face unless you first bring ^(N)Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.” ¹⁴ So David sent messengers to ^(O)Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself ^(P)for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” ¹⁵ And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, from ^[c]Paltiel the son of Laish. ¹⁶ Then her husband went along with her to ^(Q)Bahurim, ^[d]weeping behind her. So Abner said to him, “Go, return!” And he returned.

¹⁷ Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, “In time past you were seeking for David to be king over you. ¹⁸ Now then, do it! ^(R)For the Lord has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David, ^[e]I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’ ” ¹⁹ And Abner also spoke in the hearing of ^(S)Benjamin. Then Abner also went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.

²⁰ So Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. ²¹ Then Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and ^(T)gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may ^(U)reign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

Joab Murders Abner

²² At that moment the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much ^[f]spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.