3 ¹ THE 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.

3 ² vv2-5: cp 1Chr. 3.1-4 Sons were born to David at Hebron. His eldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam of Jezreel; 3 ³ his second Chileab, whose mother was Abigail widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third Absalom, whose mother was Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; 3 ⁴ the fourth Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith; the fifth Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital; 3 ⁵ and the sixth Ithream, whose mother was David's wife Eglah. These were all born to David at Hebron.

3 ⁶ As the war between the houses of Saul and David went on, Abner made his position gradually stronger in the house of Saul. 3 ⁷ Now Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ishbosheth asked Abner, 'Why have you slept with my father's concubine?' 3 ⁸ Abner 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. 3 ⁹ But now, so help me God, I will do all I can to bring about what the LORD swore to do for David: 3 ¹⁰ I 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.' 3 ¹¹ Ishbosheth could not say another word; he was too much afraid of Abner.

3 ¹² Then 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.' 3 ¹³ David 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.' 3 ¹⁴ David 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.' 3 ¹⁵ Thereupon Ishbosheth sent and took her away from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish. 3 ¹⁶ Paltiel followed her as far as Bahurim, weeping all the way, until Abner ordered him to go back home, and he went.