1THE WAR BETWEEN THE HOUSES of Saul and David was long drawn out, David growing steadily stronger while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.
2 Sons were born to David at Hebron. His eldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam of Jezreel; 3his second Chileab, whose mother was Abigail widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third Absalom, whose mother was Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; 4the fourth Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith; the fifth Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital; 5and the sixth Ithream, whose mother was David's wife Eglah. These were all born to David at Hebron.
6As the war between the houses of Saul and David went on, Abner made his position gradually stronger in the house of Saul. 7Now Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ishbosheth asked Abner, 'Why have you slept with my father's concubine?' 8Abner was very angry at this and exclaimed, 'Am I a baboon in the pay of Judah? Up to now I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers and friends, and I have not betrayed you into David's hands; yet you choose this moment to charge me with disloyalty over this woman. 9But now, so help me God, I will do all I can to bring about what the LORD swore to do for David: 10I will set to work to bring down the house of Saul and to put David on the throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.' 11Ishbosheth could not say another word; he was too much afraid of Abner. 12Then Abner, seeking to make friends where he could, instead of going to David himself sent envoys with this message: 'Let us come to terms, and I will do all I can to bring the whole of Israel over to you.' 13David sent answer: 'Good, I will come to terms with you, but on this one condition, that you do not come into my presence without bringing Saul's daughter Michal to me.' 14David also sent messengers to Saul's son Ishbosheth with the demand: 'Hand over to me my wife Michal to whom I was betrothed at the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.' 15Thereupon Ishbosheth sent and took her away from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish. 16Paltiel followed her as far as Bahurim, weeping all the way, until Abner ordered him to go back home, and he went.
22David's men and Joab returned from a raid bringing a great deal of plunder with them, and by this time Abner, after his dismissal, was no longer with David in Hebron. 23So when Joab and his raiding party arrived, they were greeted with the news that Abner son of Ner had been with the king and had departed under safe conduct. 24Joab went in to the king and said, 'What have you done? Here you have had Abner with you. How could you let him go? He has got clean away! 25You know Abner son of Ner: he came meaning to deceive you, to learn all about your movements and to find out what you are doing.' 26When he left David's presence, Joab sent messengers after Abner and they brought him back from the Pool of Sirah; but David knew nothing of all this. 27On Abner's return to Hebron, Joab drew him aside in the gateway, as though to speak privately with him, and there, in revenge for his brother Asahel, he stabbed him in the belly, and he died. 28When David heard the news he said, 'I and my realm are for ever innocent in the sight of the LORD of the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29May it recoil upon the head of Joab and upon all his family! May the house of Joab never be free from running sore or foul disease, nor lack a son fit only to ply the distaff or doomed to die by the sword or beg his bread!' 30So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in battle at Gibeon. 31Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him to rend their clothes, put on sackcloth and beat their breasts for Abner, and the king himself walked behind the bier. 32They buried Abner in Hebron and the king wept aloud at the tomb, while all the people wept with him. 33The king made this lament for Abner:
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