1 The war between Saul's house and David's house dragged on. David kept growing stronger, while Saul's house kept growing weaker.
2 Sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;
3 his second Chileab, by Abigail, widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third Absalom, son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
4 the fourth Adonijah son of Haggith; the fifth Shephatiah son of Abital;
5 and the sixth Ithream, by David's wife Eglah. These sons were born to David at Hebron.
6 During the war between Saul's house and David's house, Abner was strengthening his own position in Saul's house.
7 Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth said to Abner, "Why did you sleep with my father's concubine?"
8 Abner was furious at what Ish-bosheth said. He said, "Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? To this day I keep showing kindness to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers and his friends, and I have not let you fall into David's hand; and today you accuse me of wrongdoing with a woman!
9 May God do so to Abner, and more besides, if I do not do for David just what the LORD swore to him:
10 to take the kingship away from Saul's house and set up David's throne over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba."
11 Ish-bosheth could not say another word in reply to Abner, because he was afraid of him.
12 Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf to say, "Whose land is it? Make your covenant with me, and my hand will be with you to bring all Israel round to you."
13 David said, "Good, I will make a covenant with you. But I ask one thing of you: you will not see my face unless you bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see me."
14 David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth son of Saul to say, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed for a hundred Philistine foreskins."
15 Ish-bosheth sent and took her away from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish.
16 Her husband went along with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner told him, "Go back home!" And he went back.
17 Abner had a word with the elders of Israel: "For a long time you have wanted David as your king.
18 Now act, for the LORD has spoken of David, saying, 'By the hand of my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.'"
19 Abner spoke to Benjamin too, in person. Then Abner went on to Hebron to tell David in person everything that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin had agreed on.
20 Abner came to David at Hebron with twenty men, and David held a feast for Abner and the men with him.
21 Abner said to David, "Let me go now and gather all Israel to my lord the king, so they can make a covenant with you, and you will reign over everything you desire." David sent Abner off, and he went away in peace.
22 Just then David's servants and Joab came back from a raid, bringing a great deal of spoil with them. Abner was no longer with David at Hebron, since he had sent him off and he had gone in peace.
23 When Joab and the whole army with him arrived, Joab was told, "Abner son of Ner came to the king, and the king sent him off, and he has gone in peace."
24 Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Abner came to you! Why did you send him off, so that he is gone?
25 You know Abner son of Ner: he came to deceive you, to learn your comings and goings and find out everything you are doing."
26 Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah, without David's knowledge.
27 When Abner came back to Hebron, Joab drew him aside into the gateway as if to talk with him quietly, and there he stabbed him in the belly. He died for the blood of Asahel, Joab's brother.
28 Later David heard of it and said, "I and my kingship are innocent before the LORD for ever of the blood of Abner son of Ner.
29 May it whirl down on Joab's head and on all his father's house! May Joab's house never be without someone with a discharge, or someone leprous, or one who holds a spindle, or one who falls by the sword, or one who goes short of bread!"
30 So Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
31 David told Joab and all the troops with him, "Tear your clothes, wrap yourselves in sackcloth, and mourn in front of Abner." King David himself walked behind the bier.
32 They buried Abner at Hebron. The king wept aloud at Abner's grave, and all the people wept.
33 The king chanted a lament for Abner: "Was Abner to die as a fool dies?
34 Your hands were not tied, your feet were not put in bronze chains; you fell as one falls before men of violence." And all the people wept over him once more.
35 All the people came to urge David to eat some food while it was still day, but David swore, "May God do so to me, and more besides, if I taste bread or anything at all before the sun sets!"
36 All the people noted it and approved, as they approved of everything the king did.
37 That day all the people and all Israel knew that it was not the king's doing that Abner son of Ner had been killed.
38 The king said to his servants, "Do you not realize that a prince, a great man, has fallen in Israel today?
39 And today I am weak, though anointed king; these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me. May the LORD pay back the evildoer as his evil deserves!"