2 Samuel

There was a long war between Saul’s party and that of David, but David grew stronger while Saul’s party grew weaker.

Sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn, Amnon, of Ahinoam from Jezreel;

the second, Chileab, of Abigail, widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom, son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;

the fourth, Adonijah, the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah, the son of Abital;

and the sixth, Ithream, of David’s wife Eglah.

Murder of Abner

While war was going on between the party of Saul and that of David, Abner was strengthening his position in Saul’s family.

Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah, on whose account Ishbaal chided Abner: “Why have you slept with my father’s concubine?”

Abner was furious because of Ishbaal’s remark and exclaimed: “Am I a dog’s head? Up to now, I have been loyal to the family of Saul, your father, and his brothers and friends, but I have not delivered you into the hands of David, and you have come accusing me because of this woman.

May God deal with me severely if I do not do for David what the Lord swore to him—

to transfer the kingdom from the family of Saul to that of David and make him king of Israel and Judah to rule over all the land from Dan to Beersheba.”

Ishbaal could no longer say a word to Abner, for he feared him.

Abner then sent messengers to David at Hebron, saying: “To whom does the land belong? Agree with me, and I shall help you obtain all Israel.”

David replied: “I will agree with you, but on one condition: you may appear before me when you bring me Saul’s daughter, Michal.”

Then David sent messengers to Ishbaal, Saul’s son, to tell him: “Give me my wife Michal, whom I married for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.”

Ishbaal sent for her and took her away from her husband, Paltiel, son of Laish,

who followed her weeping all the way to Bahurim. Abner said to him:“Go back!” and he turned back.

Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and told them: “You have long wanted to have David as your king.

Well, make it come true; for the Lord made a promise to David and said: ‘By my servant David, I will save my people Israel from the Philistines and all their enemies.’”

Abner also spoke to the people of Benjamin. Then he went to tell David at Hebron the proposals of Israel and the Benjaminites.

When Abner came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and the twenty men who were with him.

Then Abner said to David: “I will now go and assemble all Israel for my master the king, that they may agree with you, and that you may reign over all those you want to rule.”

Just then, David’s men and Joab arrived from a raid, taking a great deal of booty. Abner was no longer with David at Hebron, for he had departed quietly after David had dismissed him.

When Joab arrived with his troops, he was told: “Abner, son of Ner, came to see the king; then the king sent him on his way, and he went in peace.”

Joab then asked the king: “What did you do? When Abner came to you, why did you allow him to leave?

You know what Abner, son of Ner, is like. He came to you deceitfully to observe and discover what you are doing.”

Joab departed from David, then sent messengers afterward to Abner, who was at the well of Sirah, telling him to return without David knowing.

When Abner arrived at Hebron, Joab took him aside within the city gate as though to speak with him privately. There, he stabbed him in the belly, and he died. Joab did so in revenge for the murder of his brother, Asahel.

Later on, David heard about this. Then he said: “The Lord will not punish me and my kingdom for the blood of Abner, son of Ner.

May justice for his blood fall on Joab and on all his father’s family, and may there be forever among them some member who has a discharge, or is sick with leprosy, or who is only fit to hold a spindle, or who falls by the sword or hunger!”

Joab and his brother Abishai slew Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.

David then told Joab and those with him: “Tear off your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” King David himself followed the corpse.

They buried Abner at Hebron. The king wept aloud over his grave, and everyone joined in the lamentation.

The king began the mourning song for Abner with these words: “Should Abner die as a fool dies?

Your hands were not bound; your feet were not fettered. You have fallen as one falls at the hands of the wicked.” And all the people again wept over him.

Then the people tried to persuade David to take some food while it was still daylight. But David swore: “May God do so to me and more if I touch food before sundown!”

The people heeded this, which pleased them; they were pleased with whatever the king said.

This day, they realized, as did all the people of Israel, that the king had no part in the murder of Abner, son of Ner.

The king asked his servants: “Do you realize that a general and valiant warrior passed away today in Israel?

Although I am the anointed king, today I feel helpless to control the sons of Zeruiah. May the Lord repay the one who does evil.”