1Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David : and David waxed stronger and stronger , but the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker . 2And unto David were sons born in Hebron : and his first-born 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 . 6And it came to pass , while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David , that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul . 7Now Saul had a concubine , whose name was Rizpah , the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father’s concubine ? 8Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said , Am I a dog ’s head that belongeth to Judah ? This day do I show kindness unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends , and have not delivered thee into the hand of David ; and yet thou chargest me this day with a fault concerning this woman . 9God do so to Abner, and more also , if , as Jehovah hath sworn to David , I do not even so to him ; 10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul , and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah , from Dan even to Beer-sheba. 11And he could not answer Abner another word , because he feared him .
The Conflict Between Abner and Ish-bosheth
12And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf , saying, Whose is the land? saying also , Make thy league with me , and , behold , my hand shall be with thee , to bring about all Israel unto thee . 13And he said , Well ; I will make a league with thee ; but one thing I require of thee : that is , thou shalt not see my face , except thou first bring Michal , Saul ’s daughter , when thou comest to see my face . 14And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul ’s son , saying, Deliver me my wife Michal , whom I betrothed to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines . 15And Ish-bosheth sent , and took her from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish . 16And her husband went with her , weeping as he went , and followed her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him , Go , return : and he returned . 17And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel , saying , In times past ye sought for David to be king over you : 18now then do it ; for Jehovah hath 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 . 19And Abner also spake 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 . And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast . 21And Abner said unto David , I will arise and go , and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king , that they may make a covenant with thee , and that thou mayest reign over all that thy soul desireth. And David sent Abner away ; and he went in peace .
Abner's Pact with David
22And , behold , the servants of David and Joab came from a foray, and brought in a great spoil with them : but Abner was not with David in Hebron ; for he had sent him away , and he was gone in peace . 23When Joab and all the host that was with him were come , they told Joab , saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king , and he hath sent him away , and he is gone in peace . 24Then Joab came to the king , and said, What hast thou done ? behold , Abner came unto thee ; why is it that thou hast sent him away , and he is quite gone ? 25Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner , that he came to deceive thee , and to know thy going out and thy coming in , and to know all that thou doest . 26And when Joab was come out from David , he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah : but David knew it not . 27And when Abner was returned to Hebron , Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly , and smote him there in the body , so that he died , for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28And afterward, when David heard it , he said , I and my kingdom are guiltless before Jehovah for ever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner : 29let it fall upon the head of Joab , and upon all his father’s house ; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue , or that is a leper , or that leaneth on a staff , or that falleth by the sword , or that lacketh bread . 30So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle .
Joab's Revenge
31And David said to Joab , and to all the people that were with him , Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth , and mourn before Abner. And king David followed the bier . 32And they buried Abner in Hebron : and the king lifted up his voice , and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept . 33And the king lamented for Abner, and said, Should Abner die as a fool dieth ? 34Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters : As a man falleth before the children of iniquity , so didst thou fall . And all the people wept again over him . 35And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day ; but David sware , saying, God do so to me , and more also , if I taste bread , or aught else , till the sun be down . 36And all the people took notice of it , and it pleased them ; as whatsoever 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 slay Abner the son of Ner . 38And the king said unto his servants , Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel ? 39And I am this day weak , though anointed king ; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me : Jehovah reward the evil-doer according to his wickedness .