Christian Standard Bible

Hebrew Study Bible

1During the long war between the house of Saul and the house of David, David was growing stronger and the house of Saul was becoming weaker.

1וַתְּהִ֤י הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ אֲרֻכָּ֔ה בֵּ֚ין בֵּ֣ית שָׁא֔וּל וּבֵ֖ין בֵּ֣ית דָּוִ֑ד וְדָוִד֙ הֹלֵ֣ךְ וְחָזֵ֔ק וּבֵ֥ית שָׁא֖וּל הֹלְכִ֥ים וְדַלִּֽים׃ ס

2Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelite;

2[וילדו] (וַיִּוָּלְד֧וּ‪‬) לְדָוִ֛ד בָּנִ֖ים בְּחֶבְר֑וֹן וַיְהִ֤י בְכוֹרוֹ֙ אַמְנ֔וֹן לַאֲחִינֹ֖עַם הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִֽת׃

3his second was Chileab, by Abigail, the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third was Absalom, son of Maacah the daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;

3וּמִשְׁנֵ֣הוּ כִלְאָ֔ב [לאביגל] (לַאֲ‍ֽבִיגַ֕יִל) אֵ֖שֶׁת נָבָ֣ל הַֽכַּרְמְלִ֑י וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁי֙ אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם בֶּֽן־ מַעֲכָ֔ה בַּת־ תַּלְמַ֖י מֶ֥לֶךְ גְּשֽׁוּר׃

4the fourth was Adonijah, son of Haggith; the fifth was Shephatiah, son of Abital;

4וְהָרְבִיעִ֖י אֲדֹנִיָּ֣ה בֶן־ חַגִּ֑ית וְהַחֲמִישִׁ֖י שְׁפַטְיָ֥ה בֶן־ אֲבִיטָֽל׃

5the sixth was Ithream, by David's wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.

5וְהַשִּׁשִּׁ֣י יִתְרְעָ֔ם לְעֶגְלָ֖ה אֵ֣שֶׁת דָּוִ֑ד אֵ֛לֶּה יֻלְּד֥וּ לְדָוִ֖ד בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן׃ פ

6During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner kept acquiring more power in the house of Saul.

6וַיְהִ֗י בִּֽהְיוֹת֙ הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה בֵּ֚ין בֵּ֣ית שָׁא֔וּל וּבֵ֖ין בֵּ֣ית דָּוִ֑ד וְאַבְנֵ֛ר הָיָ֥ה מִתְחַזֵּ֖ק בְּבֵ֥ית שָׁאֽוּל׃

7Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah daughter of Aiah, and Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, "Why did you sleep with my father's concubine?"

7וּלְשָׁא֣וּל פִּלֶ֔גֶשׁ וּשְׁמָ֖הּ רִצְפָּ֣ה בַת־ אַיָּ֑ה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ אַבְנֵ֔ר מַדּ֥וּעַ בָּ֖אתָה אֶל־ פִּילֶ֥גֶשׁ אָבִֽי׃

8Abner was very angry about Ish-bosheth's accusation. "Am I a dog's head who belongs to Judah?" he asked. "All this time I've been loyal to the family of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends and haven't betrayed you to David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman!

8וַיִּחַר֩ לְאַבְנֵ֨ר מְאֹ֜ד עַל־ דִּבְרֵ֣י אִֽישׁ־ בֹּ֗שֶׁת וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הֲרֹ֨אשׁ כֶּ֥לֶב אָנֹ֘כִי֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לִֽיהוּדָה֒ הַיּ֨וֹם אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־ חֶ֜סֶד עִם־ בֵּ֣ית ׀ שָׁא֣וּל אָבִ֗יךָ אֶל־ אֶחָיו֙ וְאֶל־ מֵ֣רֵעֵ֔הוּ וְלֹ֥א הִמְצִיתִ֖ךָ בְּיַד־ דָּוִ֑ד וַתִּפְקֹ֥ד עָלַ֛י עֲוֺ֥ן הָאִשָּׁ֖ה הַיּֽוֹם׃

9May God punish Abner and do so severely if I don't do for David what the LORD swore to him:

9כֹּֽה־ יַעֲשֶׂ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ לְאַבְנֵ֔ר וְכֹ֖ה יֹסִ֣יף ל֑וֹ כִּ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֤ע יְהוָה֙ לְדָוִ֔ד כִּֽי־ כֵ֖ן אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־ לּֽוֹ׃

10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beer-sheba."

10לְהַֽעֲבִ֥יר הַמַּמְלָכָ֖ה מִבֵּ֣ית שָׁא֑וּל וּלְהָקִ֞ים אֶת־ כִּסֵּ֣א דָוִ֗ד עַל־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְעַל־ יְהוּדָ֔ה מִדָּ֖ן וְעַד־ בְּאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע׃

11Ish-bosheth did not dare respond to Abner because he was afraid of him.

11וְלֹֽא־ יָכֹ֣ל ע֔וֹד לְהָשִׁ֥יב אֶת־ אַבְנֵ֖ר דָּבָ֑ר מִיִּרְאָת֖וֹ אֹתֽוֹ׃ ס

12Abner sent messengers as his representatives to say to David, "Whose land is it? Make your covenant with me, and you can be certain I am on your side to turn all Israel over to you."

12וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ אַבְנֵ֨ר מַלְאָכִ֧ים ׀ אֶל־ דָּוִ֛ד [תחתו] (תַּחְתָּ֥יו) לֵאמֹ֖ר לְמִי־ אָ֑רֶץ לֵאמֹ֗ר כָּרְתָ֤ה בְרִֽיתְךָ֙ אִתִּ֔י וְהִנֵּה֙ יָדִ֣י עִמָּ֔ךְ לְהָסֵ֥ב אֵלֶ֖יךָ אֶת־ כָּל־ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

13David replied, "Good, I will make a covenant with you. However, there's one thing I require of you: You will not see my face unless you first bring Saul's daughter Michal when you come to see me."

13וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ט֔וֹב אֲנִ֕י אֶכְרֹ֥ת אִתְּךָ֖ בְּרִ֑ית אַ֣ךְ דָּבָ֣ר אֶחָ֡ד אָנֹכִי֩ שֹׁאֵ֨ל מֵאִתְּךָ֤ לֵאמֹר֙ לֹא־ תִרְאֶ֣ה אֶת־ פָּנַ֔י כִּ֣י ׀ אִם־ לִפְנֵ֣י הֱבִיאֲךָ֗ אֵ֚ת מִיכַ֣ל בַּת־ שָׁא֔וּל בְּבֹאֲךָ֖ לִרְא֥וֹת אֶת־ פָּנָֽי׃ ס

14Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, "Give me back my wife, Michal. I was engaged to her for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins."

14וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח דָּוִד֙ מַלְאָכִ֔ים אֶל־ אִֽישׁ־ בֹּ֥שֶׁת בֶּן־ שָׁא֖וּל לֵאמֹ֑ר תְּנָ֤ה אֶת־ אִשְׁתִּי֙ אֶת־ מִיכַ֔ל אֲשֶׁר֙ אֵרַ֣שְׂתִּי לִ֔י בְּמֵאָ֖ה עָרְל֥וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃

15So Ish-bosheth sent someone to take her away from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish.

15וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ אִ֣ישׁ בֹּ֔שֶׁת וַיִּקָּחֶ֖הָ מֵ֣עִֽם אִ֑ישׁ מֵעִ֖ם פַּלְטִיאֵ֥ל בֶּן־ [לוש] (לָֽיִשׁ׃)

16Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Abner said to him, "Go back." So he went back.

16וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ אִתָּ֜הּ אִישָׁ֗הּ הָל֧וֹךְ וּבָכֹ֛ה אַחֲרֶ֖יהָ עַד־ בַּֽחֻרִ֑ים וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֥יו אַבְנֵ֛ר לֵ֥ךְ שׁ֖וּב וַיָּשֹֽׁב׃

17Abner conferred with the elders of Israel: "In the past you wanted David to be king over you.

17וּדְבַר־ אַבְנֵ֣ר הָיָ֔ה עִם־ זִקְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר גַּם־ תְּמוֹל֙ גַּם־ שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם הֱיִיתֶ֞ם מְבַקְשִׁ֧ים אֶת־ דָּוִ֛ד לְמֶ֖לֶךְ עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃

18Now take action, because the LORD has spoken concerning David: 'Through my servant David I will save my people Israel from the power of the Philistines and the power of all Israel's enemies.'"

18וְעַתָּ֖ה עֲשׂ֑וּ כִּ֣י יְהוָ֗ה אָמַ֤ר אֶל־ דָּוִד֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בְּיַ֣ד ׀ דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֗י הוֹשִׁ֜יעַ אֶת־ עַמִּ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִיַּ֣ד פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וּמִיַּ֖ד כָּל־ אֹיְבֵיהֶֽם׃

19Abner also informed the Benjaminites and went to Hebron to inform David about all that was agreed on by Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.

19וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר גַּם־ אַבְנֵ֖ר בְּאָזְנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ין וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ גַּם־ אַבְנֵ֗ר לְדַבֵּ֞ר בְּאָזְנֵ֤י דָוִד֙ בְּחֶבְר֔וֹן אֵ֤ת כָּל־ אֲשֶׁר־ טוֹב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּבְעֵינֵ֖י כָּל־ בֵּ֥ית בִּנְיָמִֽן׃

20When Abner and twenty men came to David at Hebron, David held a banquet for him and his men.

20וַיָּבֹ֨א אַבְנֵ֤ר אֶל־ דָּוִד֙ חֶבְר֔וֹן וְאִתּ֖וֹ עֶשְׂרִ֣ים אֲנָשִׁ֑ים וַיַּ֨עַשׂ דָּוִ֧ד לְאַבְנֵ֛ר וְלַאֲנָשִׁ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־ אִתּ֖וֹ מִשְׁתֶּֽה׃

21Abner said to David, "Let me now go and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king. They will make a covenant with you, and you will reign over all you desire." So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.

21וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְנֵ֣ר אֶל־ דָּוִ֡ד אָק֣וּמָה ׀ וְֽאֵלֵ֡כָה וְאֶקְבְּצָה֩ אֶל־ אֲדֹנִ֨י הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת־ כָּל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִכְרְת֤וּ אִתְּךָ֙ בְּרִ֔ית וּמָ֣לַכְתָּ֔ בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־ תְּאַוֶּ֖ה נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ וַיְּשַׁלַּ֥ח דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־ אַבְנֵ֖ר וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃

22Just then David's soldiers and Joab returned from a raid and brought a large amount of plundered goods with them. Abner was not with David in Hebron because David had dismissed him, and he had gone in peace.

22וְהִנֵּה֩ עַבְדֵ֨י דָוִ֤ד וְיוֹאָב֙ בָּ֣א מֵֽהַגְּד֔וּד וְשָׁלָ֥ל רָ֖ב עִמָּ֣ם הֵבִ֑יאוּ וְאַבְנֵ֗ר אֵינֶ֤נּוּ עִם־ דָּוִד֙ בְּחֶבְר֔וֹן כִּ֥י שִׁלְּח֖וֹ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃

23When Joab and his whole army arrived, Joab was informed, "Abner son of Ner came to see the king, the king dismissed him, and he went in peace."

23וְיוֹאָ֛ב וְכָל־ הַצָּבָ֥א אֲשֶׁר־ אִתּ֖וֹ בָּ֑אוּ וַיַּגִּ֤דוּ לְיוֹאָב֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בָּֽא־ אַבְנֵ֤ר בֶּן־ נֵר֙ אֶל־ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֖הוּ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃

24Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Look here, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he's getting away.

24וַיָּבֹ֤א יוֹאָב֙ אֶל־ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֑יתָה הִנֵּה־ בָ֤א אַבְנֵר֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ לָמָּה־ זֶּ֥ה שִׁלַּחְתּ֖וֹ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ הָלֽוֹךְ׃

25You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to find out about your military activities and everything you're doing."

25יָדַ֙עְתָּ֙ אֶת־ אַבְנֵ֣ר בֶּן־ נֵ֔ר כִּ֥י לְפַתֹּתְךָ֖ בָּ֑א וְלָדַ֜עַת אֶת־ מוֹצָֽאֲךָ֙ וְאֶת־ [מבואך] (מ֣וֹבָאֶ֔ךָ) וְלָדַ֕עַת אֵ֛ת כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה עֹשֶֽׂה׃

26Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah, but David was unaware of it.

26וַיֵּצֵ֤א יוֹאָב֙ מֵעִ֣ם דָּוִ֔ד וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח מַלְאָכִים֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י אַבְנֵ֔ר וַיָּשִׁ֥בוּ אֹת֖וֹ מִבּ֣וֹר הַסִּרָ֑ה וְדָוִ֖ד לֹ֥א יָדָֽע׃

27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside to the middle of the city gate, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died in revenge for the death of Asahel, Joab's brother.

27וַיָּ֤שָׁב אַבְנֵר֙ חֶבְר֔וֹן וַיַּטֵּ֤הוּ יוֹאָב֙ אֶל־ תּ֣וֹךְ הַשַּׁ֔עַר לְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ בַּשֶּׁ֑לִי וַיַּכֵּ֤הוּ שָׁם֙ הַחֹ֔מֶשׁ וַיָּ֕מָת בְּדַ֖ם עֲשָׂה־ אֵ֥ל אָחִֽיו׃

28David heard about it later and said: "I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.

28וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע דָּוִד֙ מֵאַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֔ן וַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָקִ֨י אָנֹכִ֧י וּמַמְלַכְתִּ֛י מֵעִ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה עַד־ עוֹלָ֑ם מִדְּמֵ֖י אַבְנֵ֥ר בֶּן־ נֵֽר׃

29May it hang over Joab's head and his father's whole family, and may the house of Joab never be without someone who has a discharge or a skin disease, or a man who can only work a spindle, or someone who falls by the sword or starves."

29יָחֻ֙לוּ֙ עַל־ רֹ֣אשׁ יוֹאָ֔ב וְאֶ֖ל כָּל־ בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יו וְֽאַל־ יִכָּרֵ֣ת מִבֵּ֣ית יוֹאָ֡ב זָ֠ב וּמְצֹרָ֞ע וּמַחֲזִ֥יק בַּפֶּ֛לֶךְ וְנֹפֵ֥ל בַּחֶ֖רֶב וַחֲסַר־ לָֽחֶם׃

30Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

30וְיוֹאָב֙ וַאֲבִישַׁ֣י אָחִ֔יו הָרְג֖וּ לְאַבְנֵ֑ר עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵמִ֜ית אֶת־ עֲשָׂהאֵ֧ל אֲחִיהֶ֛ם בְּגִבְע֖וֹן בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ פ

31David then ordered Joab and all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn over Abner." And King David walked behind the coffin.

31וַיֹּאמֶר֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶל־ יוֹאָ֜ב וְאֶל־ כָּל־ הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־ אִתּ֗וֹ קִרְע֤וּ בִגְדֵיכֶם֙ וְחִגְר֣וּ שַׂקִּ֔ים וְסִפְד֖וּ לִפְנֵ֣י אַבְנֵ֑ר וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֔ד הֹלֵ֖ךְ אַחֲרֵ֥י הַמִּטָּֽה׃

32When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner's tomb. All the people wept,

32וַיִּקְבְּר֥וּ אֶת־ אַבְנֵ֖ר בְּחֶבְר֑וֹן וַיִשָּׂ֧א‪‬ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֶת־ קוֹל֗וֹ וַיֵּבְךְּ֙ אֶל־ קֶ֣בֶר אַבְנֵ֔ר וַיִּבְכּ֖וּ כָּל־ הָעָֽם׃ פ

33and the king sang a lament for Abner: Should Abner die as a fool dies?

33וַיְקֹנֵ֥ן הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־ אַבְנֵ֖ר וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הַכְּמ֥וֹת נָבָ֖ל יָמ֥וּת אַבְנֵֽר׃

34Your hands were not bound, your feet not placed in bronze shackles. You fell like one who falls victim to criminals. And all the people wept over him even more.

34יָדֶ֣ךָ לֹֽא־ אֲסֻר֗וֹת וְרַגְלֶ֙יךָ֙ לֹא־ לִנְחֻשְׁתַּ֣יִם הֻגָּ֔שׁוּ כִּנְפ֛וֹל לִפְנֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־ עַוְלָ֖ה נָפָ֑לְתָּ וַיֹּסִ֥פוּ כָל־ הָעָ֖ם לִבְכּ֥וֹת עָלָֽיו׃

35Then they came to urge David to eat food while it was still day, but David took an oath: "May God punish me and do so severely if I taste bread or anything else before sunset!"

35וַיָּבֹ֣א כָל־ הָעָ֗ם לְהַבְר֧וֹת אֶת־ דָּוִ֛ד לֶ֖חֶם בְּע֣וֹד הַיּ֑וֹם וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע דָּוִ֜ד לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֣ה יַעֲשֶׂה־ לִּ֤י אֱלֹהִים֙ וְכֹ֣ה יֹסִ֔יף כִּ֣י אִם־ לִפְנֵ֧י בֽוֹא־ הַשֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ אֶטְעַם־ לֶ֖חֶם א֥וֹ כָל־ מְאֽוּמָה׃

36All the people took note of this, and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased them.

36וְכָל־ הָעָ֣ם הִכִּ֔ירוּ וַיִּיטַ֖ב בְּעֵֽינֵיהֶ֑ם כְּכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֣ה הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ בְּעֵינֵ֥י כָל־ הָעָ֖ם טֽוֹב׃

37On that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the killing of Abner son of Ner.

37וַיֵּדְע֧וּ כָל־ הָעָ֛ם וְכָל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא כִּ֣י לֹ֤א הָיְתָה֙ מֵֽהַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לְהָמִ֖ית אֶת־ אַבְנֵ֥ר בֶּן־ נֵֽר׃ פ

38Then the king said to his soldiers, "You must know that a great leader has fallen in Israel today.

38וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶל־ עֲבָדָ֑יו הֲל֣וֹא תֵדְע֔וּ כִּי־ שַׂ֣ר וְגָד֗וֹל נָפַ֛ל הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

39As for me, even though I am the anointed king, I have little power today. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!"

39וְאָנֹכִ֨י הַיּ֥וֹם רַךְ֙ וּמָשׁ֣וּחַ מֶ֔לֶךְ וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים הָאֵ֛לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י צְרוּיָ֖ה קָשִׁ֣ים מִמֶּ֑נִּי יְשַׁלֵּ֧ם יְהוָ֛ה לְעֹשֵׂ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ה כְּרָעָתֽוֹ׃ פ

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.