| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 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. | 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. |
| 2Now sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born to 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 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, widow of Nabal from Carmel, his third was Absalom by Maacah, daughter of King Talmai from Geshur, |
| 4His fourth son was Adonijah, the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah, the son of Abitail. | 4his fourth was Adonijah by Haggith, his fifth was Shephatiah by 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. They were all 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. | 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 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 mistress named Rizpah, who was the daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth asked Abner, "Why did you have sex with my father's mistress?" |
| 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! | 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! |
| 9God will severely judge Abner if I do not do for David exactly what the LORD has promised 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: |
| 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!" | 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 was unable to answer Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him. | 11Ish-bosheth couldn't say another word in response to Abner, because he was terrified of 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." | 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!" |
| 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." | 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." |
| 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 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 took her 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 went along behind her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Finally Abner said to him, "Go back!" So he returned home. | 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 advised the elders of Israel, "Previously you were wanting David to be your king. | 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. |
| 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.'" | 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.'" |
| 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 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, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a banquet for Abner and the men who were with him. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 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 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." |
| 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 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 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!" | 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 not aware 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 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 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. |
| 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! | 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 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 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!" |
| 30So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in Gibeon during the battle. | 30He said this because Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner after 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. | 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, |
| 32So they buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly over Abner's grave and all the people wept too. | 32and they buried Abner at Hebron. The king wept loudly at Abner's grave, and all the people wept, too. |
| 33The king chanted the following lament for Abner: "Should Abner have died like a fool? | 33The king composed this mourning song for Abner: "Should Abner's death be like a fool's? |
| 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, 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 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!" | 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 noticed this and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased all the people. | 36Everybody took note of this and was very pleased, just as everything else the king did pleased everyone. |
| 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. | 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 servants, "Do you not realize that a great leader has fallen this day in Israel? | 38The king reminded his staff, "Don't you know that a prince and a great man 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!" | 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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