| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1The war between the house of Saul and the house of David was long and drawn out, with David growing stronger and the house of Saul becoming weaker. | 1After this, a state of protracted war existed between Saul's dynasty and David's dynasty, and the dynasty of David continued to grow and become strong while the dynasty of Saul continued to grow weaker. |
| 2Sons were born to David in Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelite; | 2During this time, sons were born to David while he was living in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam from Jezreel, |
| 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; | 3his second was Chileab by Abigail, widow of Nabal from Carmel, his third was Absalom by Maacah, daughter of King Talmai from Geshur, |
| 4the fourth was Adonijah, son of Haggith; the fifth was Shephatiah, son of Abital; | 4his fourth was Adonijah by Haggith, his fifth was Shephatiah by Abital, |
| 5the sixth was Ithream, by David's wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron. | 5and his sixth was Ithream by David's wife Eglah. They were all born to David in Hebron. |
| 6During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner kept acquiring more power in the house of Saul. | 6While war continued between the dynasties of Saul and David, Abner was growing in influence within the dynasty of Saul. |
| 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?" | 7Meanwhile, Saul had a mistress named Rizpah, who was the daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth asked Abner, "Why did you have sex with my father's mistress?" |
| 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 house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends and haven't handed you over to David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman! | 8What Ish-bosheth said made Abner furious, so he replied, "A dog's head for Judah—is that what I am? Up until today I've kept on showing loyalty to your father Saul's dynasty, to his relatives and friends, and I haven't turned you over to David, but you're charging me today with moral guilt regarding this woman! |
| 9May God punish Abner and do so severely if I dont do for David what the LORD swore to him: | 9Therefore may God do to me —and more also!—just as the LORD has promised to David, since I'm doing this for him: |
| 10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beer-sheba." | 10I will take away the kingdom from the dynasty of Saul by making the throne of David firm over Israel and Judah—from Dan to Beer-sheba!" |
| 11Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner because he was afraid of him. | 11Ish-bosheth couldn't say another word in response to Abner, because he was terrified of him. |
| 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 hand all Israel over to you." | 12So Abner sent messengers to David at Hebron to ask him, "Who owns this land? Cut a deal with me, and look!—I'll lend my hand in bringing all of Israel over to you!" |
| 13David replied, "Good, I will make a covenant with you. However, there's one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul's daughter Michal here when you come to see me." | 13David replied, "Sounds good to me! I'll cut a deal with you under one condition: you're not to show yourself in my presence unless you bring Saul's daughter with you when you come to see me." |
| 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 100 Philistine foreskins." | 14Then David sent a delegation to Saul's son Ish-bosheth to say, "Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was engaged with a dowry of 100 Philistine foreskins." |
| 15So Ish-bosheth sent someone to take her away from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish. | 15So Ish-bosheth ordered that she be taken away from her husband, Laish's son Paltiel. |
| 16Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Abner said to him, "Go back." So he went back. | 16Her husband accompanied her, crying as he followed after her all the way to Bahurim, where Abner told him, "Leave! Go back!" So he went back. |
| 17Abner conferred with the elders of Israel: "In the past you wanted David to be king over you. | 17Later, Abner had a talk with the elders of Israel. He said, "In the past you were looking to see David made king over you. |
| 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.'" | 18So do it, then! Because the LORD has said this about David: 'Through my servant David I will save my people Israel from the control of the Philistines and from all of their enemies.'" |
| 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. | 19Abner also addressed the tribe of Benjamin. Furthermore, with David's permission, Abner said anything that seemed like it would be good for Israel and for the entire tribe of Benjamin. |
| 20When Abner and 20 men came to David at Hebron, David held a banquet for him and his men. | 20Afterwards, Abner brought 20 soldiers to David at Hebron, and David threw a party for Abner and the men who were with him. |
| 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 rule over all you desire." So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace. | 21So Abner told David, "Give me permission to go out and rally all of Israel to your majesty the king so they can enter into a formal agreement with you to reign over everything that your heart desires." So David sent Abner off, and he went away in peace. |
| 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. | 22Right about then, David's servants returned from a raid, bringing plenty of war booty with them, but Abner wasn't in Hebron with David, since David had sent him away and Abner had left in peace. |
| 23When Joab and all his army arrived, Joab was informed, "Abner son of Ner came to see the king, the king dismissed him, and he went in peace." | 23When Joab returned with his entire army, Joab was informed, "Ner's son Abner visited the king, and he has dismissed him. He has left in peace." |
| 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. | 24So Joab approached the king and asked him, "What have you done? Look, Abner came to you! What's this? You sent him away? He's long gone now! |
| 25You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to find out about your activities and everything you're doing." | 25You know Ner's son Abner came to mislead you, to learn your troop movements, and to learn everything you're doing!" |
| 26Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah, but David was unaware of it. | 26As soon as Joab left David, Joab sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah, but David was not aware of this. |
| 27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside to the middle of the gateway, 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. | 27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab brought him aside within the gateway to talk to him alone and then stabbed him in the abdomen. So he died for shedding the blood of Joab's brother Asahel. |
| 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. | 28Later on, David found out about it and proclaimed, "Let me and my kingdom remain guiltless forever in the LORD's presence for the death of Ner's son Abner. |
| 29May it hang over Joab's head and his father's whole house, 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." | 29May judgment rest on Joab's head and on his father's entire household. May Joab's dynasty never be without one who has a discharge, who is a leper, who walks with a cane, who commits suicide, or who lacks food!" |
| 30Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon. | 30He said this because Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner after he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon. |
| 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 funeral procession. | 31David ordered Joab and all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn for Abner." King David walked behind the funeral procession, |
| 32When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner's tomb. All the people wept, | 32and they buried Abner at Hebron. The king wept loudly at Abner's grave, and all the people wept, too. |
| 33and the king sang a lament for Abner: Should Abner die as a fool dies? | 33The king composed this mourning song for Abner: "Should Abner's death be like a fool's? |
| 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. | 34Your hands were not bound, nor were your feet in irons. As one falls before the wicked, you have fallen." Then all the people cried again because of him. |
| 35Then they came to urge David to eat bread 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!" | 35Everyone tried to persuade David to have a meal while there was still daylight, but David took an oath by saying, "May God to do like this to me and more, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!" |
| 36All the people took note of this, and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased them. | 36Everybody took note of this and was very pleased, just as everything else the king did pleased everyone. |
| 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. | 37As a result, the entire army and all of Israel understood that day that the king had nothing to do with the murder of Ner's son Abner. |
| 38Then the king said to his soldiers, "You must know that a great leader has fallen in Israel today. | 38The king reminded his staff, "Don't you know that a prince and a great man has fallen today in Israel? |
| 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!" | 39Today, even though I'm anointed as king, I'm weak. These men, sons of Zeruiah, are too difficult for me. May the LORD repay the one who acts wickedly in accordance with his wickedness!" |
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