| NET Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 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. | 1Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. |
| 2Now sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born to Ahinoam the Jezreelite. | 2And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel; |
| 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. | 3his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; |
| 4His fourth son was Adonijah, the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah, the son of Abitail. | 4his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital; |
| 5His sixth son was Ithream, born to David's wife Eglah. These sons were all born to David in Hebron. | 5and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron. |
| 6As the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was becoming more influential in the house of Saul. | 6During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul. |
| 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?" | 7Meanwhile, Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?” |
| 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! | 8Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman! |
| 9God will severely judge Abner if I do not do for David exactly what the LORD has promised him, | 9May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him: |
| 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!" | 10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” |
| 11Ish-bosheth was unable to answer Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him. | 11And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him. |
| 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." | 12Then Abner sent messengers in his place to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.” |
| 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." | 13“Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.” |
| 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." | 14Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.” |
| 15So Ish-bosheth took her from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. | 15So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. |
| 16Her husband went along behind her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Finally Abner said to him, "Go back!" So he returned home. | 16Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home. |
| 17Abner advised the elders of Israel, "Previously you were wanting David to be your king. | 17Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king. |
| 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.'" | 18Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’ ” |
| 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. | 19Abner also spoke to the Benjamites and went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin. |
| 20When Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a banquet for Abner and the men who were with him. | 20When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them. |
| 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. | 21Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went 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. | 22Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid, bringing with them a great plunder. But Abner was not with David in Hebron because David had sent him on his way 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!" | 23When Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.” |
| 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! | 24So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away! |
| 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!" | 25Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.” |
| 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.) | 26As soon as Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David was unaware of it. |
| 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. | 27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel. |
| 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! | 28Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. |
| 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!" | 29May it whirl over the heads of Joab and the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.” |
| 30So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in Gibeon during the battle. | 30(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.) |
| 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. | 31Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier. |
| 32So they buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly over Abner's grave and all the people wept too. | 32When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept. |
| 33The king chanted the following lament for Abner: "Should Abner have died like a fool? | 33And the king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner die the death of a fool? |
| 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. | 34Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. As a man falls before the wicked, so also you fell.” And all the people wept over him even more. |
| 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!" | 35Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!” |
| 36All the people noticed this and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased all the people. | 36All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them. |
| 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. | 37So on that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner. |
| 38Then the king said to his servants, "Do you not realize that a great leader has fallen this day in Israel? | 38Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel? |
| 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!" | 39And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!” |
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