2Samuel:3

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* There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David ; and David grew stronger and stronger , while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker . * And sons were born to David at Hebron : his first-born was Amnon , of Ahin 'o-am of Jezreel ; * and his second , Chil 'e-ab , of Ab 'igail the widow of Nabal of Carmel ; and the third , Ab 'salom the son of Ma 'acah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur ; * and the fourth , Adoni 'jah the son of Haggith ; and the fifth , Shephati 'ah the son of Abi 'tal ; * and the sixth , Ith 're-am , of Eglah , David 's wife . These were born to David in Hebron . * While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David , Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul . * Now Saul had a concubine , whose name was Rizpah , the daughter of Ai 'ah ; and Ish-bo 'sheth said to Abner , "Why have you gone in to my father 's concubine ?" * Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bo 'sheth , and said , "Am I a dog 's head of Judah ? This day I keep showing loyalty to the house of Saul your father , to his brothers , and to his friends , and have not given you into the hand of David ; and yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman . * God do so to Abner , and more also , if I do not accomplish for David what the LORD has sworn to him , * to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul , and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah , from Dan to Beer-sheba ." * And Ish-bo 'sheth could not answer Abner another word , because he feared him . * And Abner sent messengers to David at Hebron , saying , "To whom does the land belong ? Make your covenant with me , and behold , my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you ." * And he said , "Good ; I will make a covenant with you ; but one thing I require of you ; that is , you shall not see my face , unless you first bring Michal , Saul 's daughter , when you come to see my face ." * Then David sent messengers to Ish-bo 'sheth Saul 's son , saying , "Give me my wife Michal , whom I betrothed at the price of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines ." * And Ish-bo 'sheth sent , and took her from her husband Pal 'ti-el the son of La 'ish . * But her husband went with her , weeping after her all the way to Bahu 'rim . Then Abner said to him , "Go , return "; and he returned . * And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel , saying , "For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you . * Now then bring it about ; for the LORD has promised David , saying , `By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines , and from the hand of all their enemies .'" * Abner also spoke to Benjamin ; and then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do . * When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron , David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him . * And Abner said to David , "I will arise and go , and will gather all Israel to my lord the king , that they may make a covenant with you , and that you may reign over all that your heart desires ." So David sent Abner away ; and he went in peace . * Just then the servants of David arrived with Jo 'ab from a raid , bringing much spoil with them . But Abner was not with David at Hebron , for he had sent him away , and he had gone in peace . * When Jo 'ab and all the army that was with him came , it was told Jo 'ab , "Abner the son of Ner came to the king , and he has let him go , and he has gone in peace ." * Then Jo 'ab went to the king and said , "What have you done ? Behold , Abner came to you ; why is it that you have sent him away , so that he is gone ? * You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you , and to know your going out and your coming in , and to know all that you are doing ." * When Jo 'ab came out from David 's presence , he sent messengers after Abner , and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah ; but David did not know about it . * And when Abner returned to Hebron , Jo 'ab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately , and there he smote him in the belly , so that he died , for the blood of As 'ahel his brother . * Afterward , when David heard of it , he said , "I and my kingdom are for ever guiltless before the LORD for the blood of Abner the son of Ner . * May it fall upon the head of Jo 'ab , and upon all his father 's house ; and may the house of Jo 'ab never be without one who has a discharge , or who is leprous , or who holds a spindle , or who is slain by the sword , or who lacks bread !" * So Jo 'ab and Abi 'shai his brother slew Abner , because he had killed their brother As 'ahel in the battle at Gibeon . * Then David said to Jo 'ab and to all the people who were with him , "Rend your clothes , and gird on sackcloth , and mourn before Abner ." And King David followed the bier . * They buried Abner at 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 , saying , "Should Abner die as a fool dies ? * Your hands were not bound , your feet were not fettered ; as one falls before the wicked you have fallen ." And all the people wept again over him . * Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day ; but David swore , saying , "God do so to me and more also , if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down !" * And all the people took notice of it , and it pleased them ; as everything that the king did pleased all the people . * So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king 's will to slay Abner the son of Ner . * And the king said to his servants , "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel ? * And I am this day weak , though anointed king ; these men the sons of Zeru 'iah are too hard for me . The LORD requite the evildoer according to his wickedness !"

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