1And the war was long between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David was going on and growing strong, but the house of Saul was going on and growing weak.
2And sons were born to David in Hebron; and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
3and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife (ishah) 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 (ishah). 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 was strengthening himself in the house of Saul.
7And Saul had a concubine, and her name was Rizpah the daughter of Aiah; and he said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to the concubine of my father?"
8And it burned greatly to Abner over the words of Ish-bosheth, and he said, "Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? Today I do kindness with the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and I have not delivered you into the hand of David; and you charge against me the iniquity of the woman (ishah) today.
9So may God do to Abner, and so may He add to him, if, as YHWH has sworn to David, I do not do so to him—
10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan and to Beersheba."
11And he could not answer Abner a word any more, because of his fearing him.
12And Abner sent messengers to David in his place, saying, "Whose is the land?" saying, "Cut your covenant (berit) with me, and behold, my hand will be with you to bring around to you all Israel."
13And he said, "Good; I will cut a covenant (berit) with you. But one thing I ask of you, saying, You shall not see my face, unless before you bring Michal the daughter of Saul when you come to see my face."
14And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, saying, "Give my wife (ishah) Michal, whom I betrothed to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines."
15And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from a man (ish), from Paltiel the son of Laish.
16And her man (ish) went with her, going and weeping after her as far as Bahurim. And Abner said to him, "Go, return." And he returned.
17And the word of Abner was with the elders of Israel, saying, "Both yesterday and the day before you were seeking David to be king over you.
18And now, do it; for YHWH has spoken to David, saying, By the hand of David My servant I will save (yasha) My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies."
19And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin; and Abner also went to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that was good in the eyes of Israel and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin.
20And Abner came to David at Hebron, and twenty men (ish) with him. And David made for Abner and for the men (ish) who were with him a feast.
21And Abner said to David, "I will arise and go and gather to my lord the king all Israel, that they may cut with you a covenant (berit), and you shall reign over all that your soul (nephesh) desires." And David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
22And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from the raid, and brought much spoil with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he went in peace.
23And Joab and all the host that was with him came; and they told Joab, saying, "Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he went in peace."
24And Joab came to the king and said, "What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why is this that you have sent him away, and he is utterly gone?
25You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing."
26And Joab went out from David, and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know.
27And Abner returned to Hebron, and Joab turned him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly; and he smote him there in the belly, and he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28And David heard afterward, and said, "Innocent am I and my kingdom before YHWH forever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
29Let it whirl upon the head of Joab, and upon all the house of his father; and let there not be cut off from the house of Joab one with an issue, or a leper, or one holding a spindle, or one falling by the sword, or one lacking bread."
30And Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had put to death their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
31And David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, "Tear your garments and gird on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner." And king David was walking after 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 over Abner and said, "Should Abner die as the death of a fool?
34Your hands were not bound, and your feet were not brought into fetters; as one falls before sons of injustice, you fell." And all the people added to weep over him.
35And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was still day; but David swore, saying, "So may God do to me, and so may He add, if before the going down of the sun I taste bread or anything at all."
36And all the people took notice, and it was good in their eyes; like all that the king did was good in the eyes of all the people.
37And all the people and all Israel knew on that day that it was not from the king to put to death Abner the son of Ner.
38And the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great one has fallen this day in Israel?
39And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men (ish), the sons of Zeruiah, are harder than I. May YHWH repay the doer of evil according to his evil."