| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker. | 1However, the war was prolonged between the house of Saul and the house of David. David was becoming steadily stronger, while the house of Saul was becoming increasingly weaker. |
| 2And sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel; | 2Now sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born to Ahinoam the Jezreelite. |
| 3and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; | 3His second son was Kileab, born to Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. His third son was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur. |
| 4and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; | 4His fourth son was Adonijah, the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah, the son of Abitail. |
| 5and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron. | 5His sixth son was Ithream, born to David's wife Eglah. These sons were all born to David in Hebron. |
| 6While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. | 6As the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was becoming more influential in the house of Saul. |
| 7Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” | 7Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth said to Abner, "Why did you have sexual relations with my father's concubine?" |
| 8Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “Am I a dog’s head of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman. | 8These words of Ish-bosheth really angered Abner and he said, "Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah? This very day I am demonstrating loyalty to the house of Saul your father and to his relatives and his friends! I have not betrayed you into the hand of David. Yet you have accused me of sinning with this woman today! |
| 9God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the LORD has sworn to him, | 9God will severely judge Abner if I do not do for David exactly what the LORD has promised him, |
| 10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” | 10namely, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah all the way from Dan to Beer Sheba!" |
| 11And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. | 11Ish-bosheth was unable to answer Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him. |
| 12And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you.” | 12Then Abner sent messengers to David saying, "To whom does the land belong? Make an agreement with me, and I will do whatever I can to cause all Israel to turn to you." |
| 13And he said, “Good; I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you; that is, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.” | 13So David said, "Good! I will make an agreement with you. I ask only one thing from you. You will not see my face unless you bring Saul's daughter Michal when you come to visit me." |
| 14Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, for whom I paid the bridal price of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” | 14David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth son of Saul with this demand: "Give me my wife Michal whom I acquired for a hundred Philistine foreskins." |
| 15And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. | 15So Ish-bosheth took her from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. |
| 16But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned. | 16Her husband went along behind her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Finally Abner said to him, "Go back!" So he returned home. |
| 17And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you. | 17Abner advised the elders of Israel, "Previously you were wanting David to be your king. |
| 18Now then bring it about, for the LORD has promised David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.’” | 18Act now! For the LORD has said to David, 'By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the Philistines and from all their enemies.'" |
| 19Abner also spoke to Benjamin. And then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do. | 19Then Abner spoke privately with the Benjaminites. Abner also went to Hebron to inform David privately of all that Israel and the entire house of Benjamin had agreed to. |
| 20When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. | 20When Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a banquet for Abner and the men who were with him. |
| 21And Abner said to David, “I will arise and go and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace. | 21Abner said to David, "Let me leave so that I may go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make an agreement with you. Then you will rule over all that you desire." So David sent Abner away, and he left in peace. |
| 22Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. | 22Now David's soldiers and Joab were coming back from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for David had sent him away and he had left in peace. |
| 23When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace.” | 23When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, Joab was told: "Abner the son of Ner came to the king; he sent him away, and he left in peace!" |
| 24Then Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone? | 24So Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Abner has come to you! Why would you send him away? Now he's gone on his way! |
| 25You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.” | 25You know Abner the son of Ner! Surely he came here to spy on you and to determine when you leave and when you return and to discover everything that you are doing!" |
| 26When Joab came out from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it. | 26Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah. (But David was not aware of it.) |
| 27And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. | 27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gate as if to speak privately with him. Joab then stabbed him in the abdomen and killed him, avenging the shed blood of his brother Asahel. |
| 28Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. | 28When David later heard about this, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the LORD of the shed blood of Abner son of Ner! |
| 29May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!” | 29May his blood whirl over the head of Joab and the entire house of his father! May the males of Joab's house never cease to have someone with a running sore or a skin disease or one who works at the spindle or one who falls by the sword or one who lacks food!" |
| 30So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon. | 30So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in Gibeon during the battle. |
| 31Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner.” And King David followed the bier. | 31David instructed Joab and all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes! Put on sackcloth! Lament before Abner!" Now King David followed behind the funeral bier. |
| 32They buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. | 32So they buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly over Abner's grave and all the people wept too. |
| 33And the king lamented for Abner, saying, “Should Abner die as a fool dies? | 33The king chanted the following lament for Abner: "Should Abner have died like a fool? |
| 34Your hands were not bound; your feet were not fettered; as one falls before the wicked you have fallen.” And all the people wept again over him. | 34Your hands were not bound, and your feet were not put into irons. You fell the way one falls before criminals." All the people wept over him again. |
| 35Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, “God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!” | 35Then all the people came and encouraged David to eat food while it was still day. But David took an oath saying, "God will punish me severely if I taste bread or anything whatsoever before the sun sets!" |
| 36And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people. | 36All the people noticed this and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased all the people. |
| 37So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s will to put to death Abner the son of Ner. | 37All the people and all Israel realized on that day that the killing of Abner son of Ner was not done at the king's instigation. |
| 38And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? | 38Then the king said to his servants, "Do you not realize that a great leader has fallen this day in Israel? |
| 39And I was gentle today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. The LORD repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!” | 39Today I am weak, even though I am anointed as king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too much for me to bear! May the LORD punish appropriately the one who has done this evil thing!" |
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