2 Samuel Chapter 3

2 Samuel Chapter 3
1 There was then long war between the
house of Saul and the house of David:
but David waxed stronger, and the house
of Saul waxed weaker. 2 And unto
David were children born in Hebron:
and his eldest son was Amnon of
Ahinoam the Jezreelite,
3 And his second, was Chileab of
Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite:
and the third, Absalom the son of
Maacah the daughter of Talmai the king
of Geshur,
4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of
Haggith, and the fifth, Shephatiah the son
of Abital,
5 And the sixth, Ithream by Eglah
David's wife: these were born to David
in Hebron.
6 Now while there was war between the
house of Saul and the house of David,
Abner made all his power for the house
of Saul.
7 And Saul had a concubine named
Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbosheth
said to Abner, Wherefore hast
thou gone into my father's concubine?
8 Then was Abner very wroth for the
words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a
dog's head, which against Judah do show
mercy this day unto the house of Saul thy
father, to his brethren, and to his
neighbors, and have not delivered thee
into the hand of David, that thou chargest
me this day with a fault concerning this
woman?
9 So do God to Abner, and more also,
except, as the Lord hath sworn to David,
even so I do to him,
10 To remove the kingdom from the
house of Saul, that the throne of David
may be stablished over Israel, and over
Judah, even from Dan to Beer-sheba. 11
And he durst no more answer to Abner:
for he feared him.
12 Then Abner sent messengers to David
on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land?
Who should also say, Make covenant
with me, and behold, mine hand shall be
with thee, to bring all Israel unto thee.
13 Who said, Well, I will make a
covenant with thee: but one thing I
require of thee, that is, that thou see not
my face except thou bring Michal Saul's
daughter when thou comest to see me.
14 Then David sent messengers to Ishbosheth
Saul's son, saying, Deliver me
my wife Michal, which I married for an
hundred foreskins of the Philistines. 15
And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from
her husband Paltiel the son of Laish.
16 And her husband went with her, and
came weeping behind her, unto Bahurim:
then said Abner unto him, Go, and
return. So he returned. 17 And Abner
had communication with the elders of
Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in
times past, that he might be your king.
18 Now then do it: for the Lord hath
spoken of David, saying, By the hand of
my servant David I will save my people
Israel out of the hands of the Philistines,
and out of the hands of all their enemies.
19 Also Abner spake to Benjamin, and
afterward Abner went to speak with
David in Hebron, concerning all that
Israel was content with, and the whole
house of Benjamin.
20 So Abner came to David to Hebron,
having twenty men with him, and David
made a feast unto Abner, and to the men
that were with him. 21 Then Abner said
unto David, I will rise up, and go gather
all Israel unto my lord the king, that they
may make a covenant with thee, and that
thou mayest reign over all that thine
heart desireth. Then David let Abner
depart, who went in peace.
22 And behold, the servants of David
and Joab came from the camp, and
brought a great prey with them (but
Abner was not with David in Hebron:
for he had sent him away, and he
departed in peace)
23 When Joab, and all the host that was
with him were come, men told Joab,
saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the
king, and he hath sent him away, and he
is gone in peace.
24 Then Joab came to the king, and said,
What hast thou done? Behold, Abner
came unto thee, why hast thou sent him
away, and he is departed?
25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner:
for he came to deceive thee, and to know
thy outgoing and ingoing, and to know all
that thou doest. 26 And when Joab was
gone out from David, he sent messengers
after Abner, which brought him again
from the well of Siriah unknowing to
David. 27 And when Abner was come
again to Hebron, Joab took him aside in
the gate to speak with him peaceably,
and smote him under the fifth rib, that he
died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28 And when afterward it came to
David's ear, he said, I and my kingdom
are guiltless before the Lord forever,
concerning the blood of Abner the son of
Ner.
29 Let the blood fall on the head of Joab,
and on all his father's house, that the
house of Joab be never without some
that have running issues, or leper, or that
leaneth on a staff, or that doth fall on the
sword, or that lacketh bread. 30 (So
Joab and Abishai his brother slew
Abner, because he had slain their
brother Asahel at Gibeon in battle)
31 And David said to Joab, and to all
the people that were with him, Rent your
clothes, and put on sackcloth, and mourn
before Abner: and king David himself
followed the bier.
32 And when they had buried Abner in
Hebron, the king lift up his voice, and
wept beside the sepulchre of Abner, and
all the people wept.
33 And the king lamented over Abner,
and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
34 Thine hands were not bound, nor thy
feet tied in fetters of brass: but as a man
falleth before wicked men , so didst thou
fall. And all the people wept again for
him.
35 Afterward all the people came to
cause David eat meat while it was yet
day, but David swear, saying, So do
God to me and more also, if I taste
bread, or ought else till the sun be down.
36 And all the people knew it, and it
pleased them: as whatsoever the king
did, pleased all the people.
37 For all the people and all Israel
understood that day, how that it was not
the king's deed that Abner the son of Ner
was slain.
38 And the king said unto his servants,
Know ye not, that there is a prince and a
great man fallen this day in Israel?
39 And I am this day weak and newly
anointed king: and these men the sons of
Zeruiah be too hard for me: the Lord
reward the doer of evil according to his
wickedness.