CHAPTER 3
The war
between
the house
of Saul
and the house
of David
was
protracted.
And David
grew stronger
and stronger,
while the house
of Saul
grew weaker
and weaker.
his second
was Chileab,
by Abigail,
the widow
of Nabal
of Carmel;
his third
was Absalom,
the son
of Maacah
the daughter
of King
Talmai
of Geshur;
Now during
the war
between
the house
of Saul
and the house
of David,
Abner
had continued to strengthen [his positio
in the house
of Saul.
Meanwhile, Saul
had a concubine
named
Rizpah,
the daughter
of Aiah.
So Ish-bosheth questioned
Abner,
“Why
did you sleep with
my father’s
concubine?”
Abner
was furious
over
Ish-bosheth’s
accusation.
“Am I
the head
of a dog
that
belongs to Judah?”
he asked.
“All this time
I have been loyal
to
the house
of your father
Saul,
to
his brothers,
and to
his friends.
I have not
delivered you
into the hand
of David,
but now
you accuse
me
of wrongdoing
with this woman!
May God
punish
Abner,
and ever so
severely,
if
I do not do
for David
as
the LORD
has sworn to him,
to transfer
the kingdom
from the house
of Saul
and to establish
the throne
of David
over
Israel
and Judah,
from Dan
to
Beersheba.”
Then Abner
sent
messengers
in his place
to say
to
David,
“To whom does
the land belong?
Make
your covenant
with me,
and you can be certain
my hand will be
on your side
to turn
all
Israel
to you.”
“Good,”
replied David,
“I
will make
a covenant
with you.
But
there is one
thing
I
require
of you:
Do not
appear
before me
unless
you bring
Saul’s
daughter
Michal
when you come
to see me.”
Then David
sent
messengers
to say
to
Ish-bosheth
son
of Saul,
“Give
me back my wife,
Michal,
whom
I betrothed
to myself
for a hundred
Philistine
foreskins.”
Her husband
followed
her,
weeping
all the way to
Bahurim.
Then Abner
said
to him,
“Go back.”
So he returned home.
Now Abner
conferred
with
the elders
of Israel
and said,
“In the past
you sought
David
as your king.
Now
take action,
because
the LORD
has said
to
David,
‘Through
My servant
David
I will save
My people
Israel
from the hands
of the Philistines
and
of all
their enemies.’”
Abner
also
spoke to
the Benjamites
and went
to Hebron
to tell
David
all
that
seemed good
to Israel
and the whole
house
of Benjamin.
Then Abner
said
to
David,
“Let me go at once,
and I will gather
all
Israel
to
my lord
the king,
that they may make
a covenant
with you,
and that you may rule
over all
that
your heart
desires.”
So David
dismissed
Abner,
and he went
in peace.
Just then
David’s
soldiers
and Joab
returned
from a raid,
bringing
with them
a great
plunder.
But Abner was
not
with
David
in Hebron
because
David had sent him
on his way
in peace.
When Joab
and all
his troops
arrived,
he
was informed,
“Abner
son
of Ner
came
to
see the king,
who sent him
on his way
in peace.”
So Joab
went
to
the king
and said,
“What
have you done?
Look,
Abner
came
to you.
Why
did you dismiss him?
Now he is getting away.
Surely you realize
that
Abner
son
of Ner
came
to deceive you
and to track
your movements
and all
that
you are
doing.”
As soon as Joab
had left
David,
he sent
messengers
after
Abner,
who brought him back
from the well
of Sirah;
but David
was unaware
of it.
When Abner
returned
to Hebron,
Joab
pulled him aside
into
the gateway,
as if to speak
to him privately,
and there
Joab stabbed
him in the stomach.
So Abner died
on account of the blood
of
Joab’s brother
Asahel.
Afterward,
David
heard
about this
and said,
“I
and my kingdom
are forever
guiltless
before
the LORD
concerning the blood
of Abner
son
of Ner.
May it whirl
over
the heads
of Joab
and
the entire
house
of his father,
and may the house
of Joab
never
be without
one having a discharge
or skin disease
or who leans
on a staff
or falls
by the sword
or starves.”
(Joab
and his brother
Abishai
murdered
Abner
because
he had killed
their brother
Asahel
in the battle
at Gibeon.)
Then David
ordered
Joab
and all
the people
with him,
“Tear
your clothes,
put on
sackcloth,
and mourn
before
Abner.”
And King
David himself
walked
behind
the funeral bier.
Your hands
were not
bound,
your feet
were not
fettered.
As a man falls
before
the wicked,
so also you fell.”
And all
the people
wept
over him
even more.
Then all
the people
came
and urged David
to eat
something
while it was still
day,
but David
took an oath,
saying,
“May God
punish
me,
and ever so
severely,
if
I taste
bread
or
anything
else before
the sun
sets!"
So on that
day
all
the troops
and all
Israel
were convinced
that
the king
had no
part
in the murder
of Abner
son
of Ner.
Then the king
said
to
his servants,
“Do you not
realize
that
a great
prince
has fallen
today
in Israel?
And I am
weak
this day,
though anointed
as king,
and these
men,
the sons
of Zeruiah,
are too fierce
for me.
May the LORD
repay
the evildoer
according to his evil!”