| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and 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. |
| 2Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel; | 2And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel; |
| 3his second, Kileab the son of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king 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; |
| 4the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; | 4his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital; |
| 5and the sixth, Ithream the son of David's wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron. | 5and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron. |
| 6During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position 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 had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, "Why did you sleep 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?” |
| 8Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. So he answered, "Am I a dog's head--on Judah's side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven't handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman! | 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! |
| 9May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD promised him on oath | 9May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him: |
| 10and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David's throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba." | 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 did not dare to say another word to Abner, 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 on his behalf to say to David, "Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over 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.” |
| 13"Good," said David. "I will make an agreement with you. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see 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.” |
| 14Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of 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 gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. | 15So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. |
| 16Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go back home!" So he went back. | 16Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home. |
| 17Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, "For some time you have wanted to make David your king. | 17Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king. |
| 18Now do it! For the LORD promised David, 'By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of 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.’ ” |
| 19Abner also spoke to the Benjamites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole tribe of Benjamin wanted to do. | 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, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men. | 20When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them. |
| 21Then Abner said to David, "Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires." So David sent Abner away, and he went 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. |
| 22Just then David's men and Joab returned from a raid and brought with them a great deal of plunder. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone 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 soldiers with him arrived, he was told that Abner son of Ner had come to the king and that the king had sent him away and that he had gone 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? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone! | 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 son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything 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.” |
| 26Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David did not know 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. |
| 27Now when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and he died. | 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. |
| 28Later, when David heard about this, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the LORD concerning the 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 fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family! May Joab's family never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or 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.” |
| 30(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.) | 30(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.) |
| 31Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, "Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and walk in mourning in front of Abner." King David himself walked behind the 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. |
| 32They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner's tomb. All the people wept also. | 32When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept. |
| 33The king sang this lament for Abner: "Should Abner have died as the lawless die? | 33And the king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner die the death of a fool? |
| 34Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. You fell as one falls before the wicked." And 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 they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, "May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else 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 took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. | 36All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them. |
| 37So on that day all the people there and all Israel knew that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner. | 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 men, "Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? | 38Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel? |
| 39And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!" | 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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