2Samuel:3

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* And there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David . And David was going on and was strong , but the house of Saul was going on and was weak . * And sons were born to David in Hebron . And his first-born was Amnon , of Ahinoam of Jezreel . * And his second was Chileab , of Abigail the former wife of Nabal of Carmel . And the third was Absalom the son of Maacah , the daughter of Talmai the king of Geshur . * And the fourth was Adonijah the son of Haggith . And the fifth was Shephatiah the son of Abital . * And the sixth was Ithream , of Eglah the wife of David . These were born to David in Hebron . * And it happened while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David , Abner was making himself strong for the house of Saul . * And Saul had a concubine , and her name was Rizpah the daughter of Aiah . And Ishbosheth said to Abner , Why have you gone in to my father 's concubine ? * And Abner was exceedingly angry over the words of Ishbosheth . And he said , Am I a dog 's head , that I deal with kindness with the house of your father Saul in regards to Judah today , to his brothers , and to his friends , and have not caused you to be found in the hand of David , and you charge a stroke against me with this woman today ? * May God do to Abner , and more so , if I do not do to David as Jehovah has sworn , * to cause to pass over the kingdom from the house of Saul , and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah from Dan even to Beersheba . * And he was not able to return a word to Abner any more , because he feared him . * And Abner sent messengers to David for himself , saying , Whose is the land ? He said , Cut your covenant with me , and , behold , my hand shall be with you , to bring all Israel around to you . * And he said , Good , I will cut a covenant with you , but one thing I ask of you , saying , You shall not see my face except you first bring Michal the daughter of Saul when you come to see my face . * And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth the son of Saul , saying , Give up my wife Michal , whom I betrothed to myself with a hundred foreskins of the Philistines . * And Ishbosheth sent and took her from the man , from Phaltiel the son of Laish . * And her husband went with her , going on and weeping behind her to Bahurim . And Abner said to him , Go , return . And he returned . * And the word of Abner was with the elders of Israel , saying , Before now you have been seeking David for king over you . * And now do it . For Jehovah has spoken of David , saying , By the hand of My servant David He will save My people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines , and out of the hand of all their enemies . * And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin . And Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that was good in the eyes of Israel , and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin . * And Abner came to David , to Hebron , and twenty men with him . And David made a feast for Abner and for the men with him . * And Abner said to David , let me rise up and go , and gather to my lord the king all Israel . And they shall cut a covenant with you . And you shall reign over all that your soul desires . And David sent Abner away , and he went in peace . * And , behold , the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop . And they brought much plunder with them . And Abner was not with David in Hebron , for he had sent him away ; and he had gone in peace . * And Joab and all the army with him had come . And they told Joab , saying , Abner the son of Ner has come to the king . And he has sent him away , and he has gone in peace . * And Joab came to the king , and said , What have you done ? Behold , Abner has come to you ; why is this , that you have sent him away , and he is already gone ? * You know Abner the son of Ner , that he came to deceive you , and to know your going out and your coming in , and to know all that you are doing . * And Joab left David , and sent messengers after Abner . And they brought him back from the well of Sirah . But David did not know it . * And Abner returned to Hebron . And Joab turned him aside into the middle of the gate , to speak with him privately . And he struck him in the belly there , and he died , because of the blood of his brother Asahel . * And afterward David heard , and said , I and my kingdom are guiltless before Jehovah forever from the blood of Abner the son of Her . * May it whirl about the head of Joab , and on all his father 's house ; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that has an issue , or that is a leper , or that leans on a staff , or who falls by the sword , or that lacks bread ! * And Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in Gibeon , in battle . * And David said to Joab , and to all the people with him , Tear your garments and gird on sackcloth , and mourn before Abner . And king David was following after the bier . * 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 . * And the king lamented for Abner , and said , Should Abner die as it were like a fool ? * Your hands were not bound , nor your feet put into fetters . As one falls before sons of evil , you have fallen ! And all the people wept again over him . * And all the people came to cause David to eat food while it was yet day . But David swore , saying , So may God do to me , and still more , if I taste bread or anything before the sun goes in . * And all the people took notice , and it was good in their eyes . As to all the king did , it was good in the eyes of all the people . * And all the people , even all Israel , knew in that day that it was not from the king to kill Abner the son of Her . * And the king said to his servants , Do you not know that a leader and a great one has fallen this day in Israel ? * And I am weak today , though anointed king . And these men , the sons of Zeruiah , are too hard for me . May Jehovah reward the doer of evil according to his evil !

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