THE SECOND BOOK OF
SAMUEL,

2 Samuel 3 ©

The war between the house of Saul, and the house of David, v. 1, etc. A list of David’s sons, who were born to him at Hebron, 2. Abner, being had in great respect in Saul’s house, is incensed against Ishbosheth for some affront offered him, and treats with David for an agreement, 6. He brings Michal, Saul’s daughter, again to David, according to his desire, 13. And having communed with the elders of Israel, he visits David at Hebron, becomes friends with him, and departs in peace, 17. Joab, coming from abroad, and hearing of this, blames David for it, overtakes Abner without David’s knowledge, and murders him treacherously, 22. For which David is greatly incensed and declares publicly his innocency, buries Abner in a stately manner, proclaims his valor, laments over him, and excuses himself for not punishing at present the authors of this murder, 28.

1

NOW there was 1long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David 2waxed stronger and stronger, and 3the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

2

¶And unto David were sonsa born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

3

And his second, 4Chileab, of Abigail the 5wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, 6Absalom the son of 7Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of 8Geshur;

4

And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, 9Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5

And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David’s 10wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6

¶And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself 11strong for the house of Saul.

7

And Saul had a concubine, whose name was 12Rizpah,b the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone 13in unto my father's concubine?

8

Then was Abner very 14wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a 15dog’s head, 16which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not 17delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest 18me to day with a fault concerning 19this woman?

9

So 20do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the 21LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

10

To translatec the kingdom from the house of Saul, and 22to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from 23Dan even to Beer-sheba.

11

And 24he could not answer Abner a word again, because he 25feared him.

12

¶And Abner sent messengers to David 26on his behalf, saying, 27Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.

13

¶And 28he said, 29Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, 30that is, Thou shalt not see my 31face, except thou first bring 32Michal Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

14

And David sent 33messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me ford an 34hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

15

35And Ish-bosheth sent, and 36took her from her husband, even frome37Phaltiel the son of Laish.

16

And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to 38Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

17

¶And Abner had 39communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David 40in times past to be king over you:

18

Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

19

And Abner 41also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to 42speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the 43whole house of Benjamin.

20

So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.

21

And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign 44over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

22

¶And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a 45troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.

23

When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

24

Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is 46quite gone?

25

Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to 47deceive thee, and to know 48thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

26

And when Joab was come out from David, he sent 49messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the 50well of Sirah: but David knew it not.

27

And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joabf took him aside in the gate to speak with him 51quietly, and smote him there under the 52fifth rib, that he died, forg the 53blood of Asahel his brother.

28

¶And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless 54before the LORD for ever from the 55blood of Abner the son of Ner:

29

Let 56it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not 57fail from the house of Joab one that hath an 58issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth 59on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

30

So Joab and 60Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the 61battle.

31

¶And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, 62Rend your clothes, and gird you with 63sackcloth, and mourn 64before Abner. And king David himself followed the 65bier.

32

And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

33

And the king lamented over Abner, and said, 66Died Abner as a fool dieth?

34

67Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before 68wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept 69again over him.

35

And when all the people came to cause David to eat 70meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, 71So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun 72be down.

36

And all the people took notice of it, and it 73pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

37

For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not 74of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

38

And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man 75fallen this day in Israel?

39

And I am this day 76weak, though 77anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be 78too hard for me: 79the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.