The House of David Strengthened
(1 Chronicles 3:1–9)

1There was then long warre betweene the house of Saul, and the house of Dauid: But Dauid waxed stroger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

2And vnto Dauid were children borne in Hebron: his eldest sonne also was Amnon of Ahinoam the Iesraelite: 3The seconde, Cheleab of Abigail the wyfe of Nabal the Carmelite: the third, Absalom the sonne of Maacha the daughter of Thalmai, the king of Gessur: 4The fourth, Adonia the sonne of Haggith: the fyft, Sephatia the sonne of Abital: 5And the sixt Iethream, by Egla Dauids wyfe: These were borne to Dauid in Hebron.

Abner Joins David

6And whyle there was warre betweene the house of Saul and the house of Dauid, Abner held vp the house of Saul. 7And Saul had a concubine named Rispha, the daughter of Ahia: And Isboseth sayd to Abner, Wherfore hast thou gone in vnto my fathers concubine? 8Then was Abner very wroth for the wordes of Isboseth, and sayde: Am I a dogges head, whiche against Iuda do shew mercie this day vnto the house of Saul thy father, and to his brethren and frendes, & haue not deliuered thee into the hande of Dauid: and thou fyndest a fault in me this day for this woman? 9So do God to Abner, and more also, except as the Lorde hath sworne to Dauid, euen so will I do to him, 10To bring the kingdome fro the house of Saul, that the throne of Dauid may be stablisshed ouer Israel and ouer Iuda, euen from Dan to Beerseba. 11And he coulde geue Abner neuer a worde to aunswere, because he feared him.

12And Abner sent messengers to Dauid secretly, saying: Whose is the land? Who should also say, Make a bond with me, and beholde my hande is with thee, to bring all Israel vnto thee. 13He sayde: Well, I will make a bonde with the: But one thing I require of thee, that is, that thou see not my face, except thou first bring Michol Sauls daughter, when thou comest to see me. 14And Dauid sent messengers to Isboseth Sauls sonne, saying: Deliuer me my wife Michol, whiche I maried for an hundred foreskinnes of ye Philistines. 15And Isboseth sent, and toke her from her husband Phalti the sonne of Lais. 16And her husband went with her, and came weeping behinde her, til they came to Bahurim. Then sayde Abner vnto him, Go and returne. And he returned.

17And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying: Ye sought for Dauid in times past, that he might be your king: 18Nowe then do it: for the Lorde hath spoken of Dauid, saying: By the hande of my seruaunt Dauid, I will saue my people Israel out of the handes of the Philistines, and out of the hande of all their enemies. 19And Abner spake in the eares of Beniamin: and afterward Abner went to speake in the eares of Dauid in Hebron all that Israel was content with and the whole house of Beniamin.

20And so Abner came to Dauid to Hebron, hauing twentie men with him: & Dauid made him & the men that were with him a feast. 21And Abner sayde vnto Dauid: I will vp, & go gather all Israel vnto my lorde the king, that they may make an appoyntment with thee, and that thou mayest raigne ouer all that thyne heart desireth. And when Dauid had let Abner depart, he went in peace.

Joab Murders Abner

22And behold, the seruauntes of Dauid and Ioab came from the campe, and brought a great pray with them: (But Abner was not with Dauid in Hebron, for he had sent him away to depart in peace.) 23When Ioab and al the hoast that was with him were come, men tolde Ioab, saying: Abner the sonne of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, that he is gone in peace. 24Then Ioab came to the king, and said: What hast thou done? Behold, Abner came vnto thee, and why hast thou sent him away, and he is quyte gone? 25Thou knowest Abner the sonne of Ner, for he came to deceaue thee, and to knowe thy outgoyng and ingoyng, and to knowe all that thou doest.

26And when Ioab was come out from Dauid, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him againe from the well of Sira, vnknowing to Dauid. 27And when Abner was come againe to Hebron, Ioab toke him asyde in the gate to speake with him peaceably, and smote him vnder the fyft ribbe, that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother, 28And when afterwarde it came to Dauids eare, he sayde: I and my kingdome are giltlesse before the Lord for euer concerning the blood of Abner the sonne of Ner. 29Let the blood fall on the head of Ioab and on all his fathers house, that the house of Ioab be neuer without one or other that hath running issues or leper, or that leaneth on a staffe, or that doth fall on the sword, or that lacketh bread. 30(So Ioab & Abisai his brother slue Abner, because he had slayne their brother Asahel at Gibeon in battell.)

David Mourns for Abner

31And Dauid sayde to Ioab and to all the people that were with him: Rent your clothes, and put on sackcloth, and mourne before Abner. And king Dauid him selfe folowed the beere. 32And when they buried Abner in Hebron, the king lift vp his voyce, & wept besyde the sepulchre of Abner, and al the people wept.

33And the king lamented ouer Abner, and sayde: Died Abner as a foole dieth?

34Thy handes were not bounde, nor thy feete brought into fetters of brasse: but as a man falleth before wicked children, so fellest thou. And all they that were of the people, wept yet more ouer him.

35And when all the people came to cause Dauid eate meate whyle it was yet day, Dauid sware, saying: So do God to me and more also, if I taste bread or ought els tyll the sunne be downe. 36And all the people wist it, and it pleased them: as whatsoeuer the king did, pleased all the people. 37For all the people and all Israel vnderstoode that day, how that it was not the kinges deede that Abner the sonne of Ner was slayne. 38And the king said vnto his seruauntes: Knowe ye not howe that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? 39And I am this day tender and newly annoynted king, and these men the sonnes of Zaruia be to hard for me: The Lorde rewarde the doer of euyll, according to his wickednesse.