2 Samuel

Chapter 3

1  During the war David still waxeth stronger.  2  Six sons were born to him in Hebron.  6  Abner, displeased with Ish-bosheth,  12  revolteth to David.  13  David requireth a condition to bring him his wife Michal.  17  Abner, having communed with the Israelites, is feasted by David and dismissed.  22  Joab, returning from battle, is displeased with the king and killeth Abner.  28  David curseth Joab,  31  and mourneth for Abner.

3:1 ¶ Now there was (1961) long {752} war {4421} between (996) the house {1004} of Saul {7586} and the house {1004} of David: {1732} but David {1732} waxed [1980] <8802> stronger [2390] and stronger, {2390} (1980) and the house {1004} of Saul {7586} waxed {1980} <8802> weaker [1800] and weaker. {1800}

3:2 ¶ And unto David {1732} were sons {1121} born {3205} <8735> k8675- <8795> in Hebron: {2275} and his firstborn {1060} was (1961) Amnon, {550} of Ahinoam {293} the Jezreelitess; {3159}

3:3 And his second, {4932} Chileab, {3609} of Abigail {26} the wife {802} of Nabal {5037} the Carmelite; {3761} and the third, {7992} Absalom {53} the son {1121} of Maacah {4601} the daughter {1323} of Talmai {8526} king {4428} of Geshur; {1650}

3:4 And the fourth, {7243} Adonijah {138} the son {1121} of Haggith; {2294} and the fifth, {2549} Shephatiah {8203} the son {1121} of Abital; {37}

3:5 And the sixth, {8345} Ithream, {3507} by Eglah {5698} David's {1732} wife. {802} These (428) were born {3205} <8795> to David {1732} in Hebron. {2275}

3:6 ¶ And it came to pass, (1961) while there was (1961) war {4421} between (996) the house {1004} of Saul {7586} and the house {1004} of David, {1732} that Abner {74} made himself strong {2388} <8693> for the house {1004} of Saul. {7586}

3:7 And Saul {7586} had a concubine, {6370} whose name {8034} [was] Rizpah, {7532} the daughter {1323} of Aiah: {345} and [Ishbosheth] said {559} <8799> to (413) Abner, {74} Wherefore (4069) hast thou gone (935) in [935] <8804> unto (413) my father's {1} concubine? {6370}

3:8 Then was Abner {74} very {3966} wroth {2734} <8799> for (5921) the words {1697} of Ishbosheth, {378} and said, {559} <8799> [Am] I (595) a dog's {3611} head, {7218} which (834) against Judah {3063} do shew {6213} <8799> kindness {2617} this day {3117} unto (5973) the house {1004} of Saul {7586} thy father, {1} to (413) his brethren, {251} and to (413) his friends, {4828} and have not (3808) delivered {4672} <8689> thee into the hand {3027} of David, {1732} that thou chargest {6485} <8799> (5921) me to day {3117} with a fault {5771} concerning this woman? {802}

3:9 So (3541) do {6213} <8799> God {430} to Abner, {74} and more (3254) also, [3254] <8686> (3541) except, (3588) as (834) the LORD {3068} hath sworn {7650} <8738> to David, {1732} even (3588) so (3651) I do {6213} <8799> to him;

3:10 To translate {5674} <8687> the kingdom {4467} from the house {1004} (4480) of Saul, {7586} and to set up {6965} <8687> the (853) throne {3678} of David {1732} over (5921) Israel {3478} and over (5921) Judah, {3063} from Dan {1835} (4480) even to (5704) Beersheba. {884}

3:11 And he could {3201} <8804> not (3808) answer {7725} <8687> (853) Abner {74} a word {1697} again, (5750) because he feared {3372} <8800> (4480) him.

3:12 ¶ And Abner {74} sent {7971} <8799> messengers {4397} to (413) David {1732} on his behalf, (8478) saying, {559} <8800> Whose (4310) [is] the land? {776} saying {559} <8800> [also], Make {3772} <8798> thy league {1285} with (854) me, and, behold, (2009) my hand {3027} [shall be] with (5973) thee, to bring about {5437} <8687> (853) all (3605) Israel {3478} unto (413) thee.

3:13 ¶ And he said, {559} <8799> Well; {2896} I (589) will make {3772} <8799> a league {1285} with (854) thee: but (389) one {259} thing {1697} I (595) require {7592} <8802> of (4480) (854) thee, that is, {559} <8800> Thou shalt not (3808) see {7200} <8799> (853) my face, {6440} except (3588) (518) thou first {6440} bring {935} <8687> (853) Michal {4324} Saul's {7586} daughter, {1323} when thou comest {935} <8800> to see {7200} <8800> (853) my face. {6440}

3:14 And David {1732} sent {7971} <8799> messengers {4397} to (413) Ishbosheth {378} Saul's {7586} son, {1121} saying, {559} <8800> Deliver {5414} <8798> [me] (853) my wife {802} (853) Michal, {4324} which (834) I espoused {781} <8765> to me for an hundred {3967} foreskins {6190} of the Philistines. {6430}

3:15 And Ishbosheth {378} sent, {7971} <8799> and took {3947} <8799> her from (4480) (5973) [her] husband, {376} [even] from (4480) (5973) Phaltiel {6409} the son {1121} of Laish. {3919} [3889] k8675-

3:16 And her husband {376} went [3212] <8799> (1980) with (854) her along (1980) weeping {1058} <8800> [1980] behind {310} her to (5704) Bahurim. {980} Then said {559} <8799> Abner {74} unto (413) him, Go, [3212] <8798> (1980) return. {7725} <8798> And he returned. {7725} <8799>

3:17 ¶ And Abner {74} had (1961) communication {1697} [1961] <8804> with (5973) the elders {2205} of Israel, {3478} saying, {559} <8800> Ye sought {1245} <8764> (1961) for (853) David {1732} in times {8543} (1571) past {8032} (1571) [to be] king {4428} over (5921) you:

3:18 Now (6258) then do {6213} <8798> [it]: for (3588) the LORD {3068} hath spoken {559} <8804> of (413) David, {1732} saying, {559} <8800> By the hand {3027} of my servant {5650} David {1732} I will save {3467} <8687> (853) my people {5971} Israel {3478} out of the hand {3027} (4480) of the Philistines, {6430} and out of the hand {3027} (4480) of all (3605) their enemies. {341} <8802>

3:19 And Abner {74} also (1571) spake {1696} <8762> in the ears {241} of Benjamin: {1144} and Abner {74} went [3212] <8799> (1980) also (1571) to speak {1696} <8763> in the ears {241} of David {1732} in Hebron {2275} (853) all (3605) that (834) seemed [5869] good {2896} (5869) to Israel, {3478} and that seemed good {5869} to the whole (3605) house {1004} of Benjamin. {1144}

3:20 So Abner {74} came {935} <8799> to (413) David {1732} to Hebron, {2275} and twenty {6242} men [582] (376) with (854) him. And David {1732} made {6213} <8799> Abner {74} and the men [582] (376) that (834) [were] with (854) him a feast. {4960}

3:21 And Abner {74} said {559} <8799> unto (413) David, {1732} I will arise {6965} <8799> and go, [3212] <8799> (1980) and will gather {6908} <8799> (853) all (3605) Israel {3478} unto (413) my lord {113} the king, {4428} that they may make {3772} <8799> a league {1285} with (854) thee, and that thou mayest reign {4427} <8804> over all (3605) that (834) thine heart {5315} desireth. {183} <8762> And David {1732} sent {7971} <0> (853) Abner {74} away; [7971] <8762> and he went [3212] <8799> (1980) in peace. {7965}

3:22 ¶ And, behold, (2009) the servants {5650} of David {1732} and Joab {3097} came {935} <8802> from [pursuing] a troop, {1416} (4480) and brought (935) in [935] <8689> a great {7227} spoil {7998} with (5973) them: but Abner {74} [was] not (369) with (5973) David {1732} in Hebron; {2275} for (3588) he had sent him away, {7971} <8765> and he was gone [3212] <8799> (1980) in peace. {7965}

3:23 When Joab {3097} and all (3605) the host {6635} that (834) [was] with (854) him were come, {935} <8804> they told {5046} <8686> Joab, {3097} saying, {559} <8800> Abner {74} the son {1121} of Ner {5369} came {935} <8804> to (413) the king, {4428} and he hath sent him away, {7971} <8762> and he is gone [3212] <8799> (1980) in peace. {7965}

3:24 Then Joab {3097} came {935} <8799> to (413) the king, {4428} and said, {559} <8799> What (4100) hast thou done? {6213} <8804> behold, (2009) Abner {74} came {935} <8802> unto (413) thee; why (4100) [is] it [that] thou hast sent him away, {7971} <8765> and he is quite [1980] <8800> gone? [3212] <8799> (1980)

3:25 Thou knowest {3045} <8804> (853) Abner {74} the son {1121} of Ner, {5369} that (3588) he came {935} <8804> to deceive {6601} <8763> thee, and to know {3045} <8800> (853) thy going out {4161} and thy coming in, {4126} k8675- [3996] and to know {3045} <8800> (853) all (3605) that (834) thou (859) doest. {6213} <8802>

3:26 And when Joab {3097} was come out {3318} <8799> from (4480) (5973) David, {1732} he sent {7971} <8799> messengers {4397} after {310} Abner, {74} which brought him again {7725} <8686> (853) from the well {953} (4480) of Sirah: {5626} but David {1732} knew {3045} <8804> [it] not. (3808)

3:27 And when Abner {74} was returned {7725} <8799> to Hebron, {2275} Joab {3097} took him aside {5186} <8686> in {413} {8432} the gate {8179} to speak {1696} <8763> with (854) him quietly, {7987} and smote {5221} <8686> him there (8033) under the fifth {2570} [rib], that he died, {4191} <8799> for the blood {1818} of Asahel {6214} his brother. {251}

3:28 ¶ And afterward {310} (4480) (3651) when David {1732} heard {8085} <8799> [it], he said, {559} <8799> I (595) and my kingdom {4467} [are] guiltless {5355} before (4480) (5973) the LORD {3068} for [5704] ever {5769} (5704) from the blood {1818} (4480) of Abner {74} the son {1121} of Ner: {5369}

3:29 Let it rest {2342} <8799> on (5921) the head {7218} of Joab, {3097} and on (413) all (3605) his father's {1} house; {1004} and let there not (408) fail {3772} <8735> from the house {1004} (4480) of Joab {3097} one that hath an issue, {2100} <8802> or that is a leper, {6879} <8794> or that leaneth {2388} <8688> on a staff, {6418} or that falleth {5307} <8802> on the sword, {2719} or that lacketh {2638} bread. {3899}

3:30 So Joab {3097} and Abishai {52} his brother {251} slew {2026} <8804> Abner, {74} because (5921) (834) he had slain {4191} <8689> their brother {251} (853) Asahel {6214} at Gibeon {1391} in the battle. {4421}

3:31 ¶ And David {1732} said {559} <8799> to (413) Joab, {3097} and to (413) all (3605) the people {5971} that (834) [were] with (854) him, Rend {7167} <8798> your clothes, {899} and gird {2296} <8798> you with sackcloth, {8242} and mourn {5594} <8798> before {6440} Abner. {74} And king {4428} David {1732} [himself] followed {310} [1980] <8802> the bier. {4296}

3:32 And they buried {6912} <8799> (853) Abner {74} in Hebron: {2275} and the king {4428} lifted up {5375} <8799> (853) his voice, {6963} and wept {1058} <8799> at (413) the grave {6913} of Abner; {74} and all (3605) the people {5971} wept. {1058} <8799>

3:33 And the king {4428} lamented {6969} <8787> over (413) Abner, {74} and said, {559} <8799> Died {4191} <8799> Abner {74} as a fool {5036} dieth? {4194}

3:34 Thy hands {3027} [were] not (3808) bound, {631} <8803> nor (3808) thy feet {7272} put {5066} <8717> into fetters: {5178} as a man (1121) falleth {5307} <8800> before {6440} wicked {5766} men, {1121} [so] fellest {5307} <8804> thou. And all (3605) the people {5971} wept {1058} <8800> again {3254} <8686> over (5921) him.

3:35 And when all {3605} the people {5971} came {935} <8799> to cause [1262] <0> (853) David {1732} to eat {1262} <8687> meat {3899} while it was yet {5750} day, {3117} David {1732} sware, {7650} <8735> saying, {559} <8800> So (3541) do {6213} <8799> God {430} to me, and more (3254) also, [3254] <8686> (3541) if (3588) (518) I taste {2938} <8799> bread, {3899} or (176) ought [3972] else, (3605) (3972) till {6440} the sun {8121} be down. {935} <8800>

3:36 And all (3605) the people {5971} took notice {5234} <8689> [of it], and it pleased [3190] <8799> [5869] them: (3190) (5869) as whatsoever (3605) (834) the king {4428} did {6213} <8804> pleased {5869} [2896] (2895) all (3605) the people. {5971}

3:37 For all (3605) the people {5971} and all (3605) Israel {3478} understood {3045} <8799> that (1931) day {3117} that (3588) it was (1961) not (3808) of the king {4428} (4480) to slay {4191} <8687> Abner {74} the son {1121} of Ner. {5369}

3:38 And the king {4428} said {559} <8799> unto (413) his servants, {5650} Know {3045} <8799> ye not (3808) that (3588) there is a prince {8269} and a great man {1419} fallen {5307} <8804> this (2088) day {3117} in Israel? {3478}

3:39 And I (595) [am] this day {3117} weak, {7390} though anointed {4886} <8803> king; {4428} and these (428) men [582] (376) the sons {1121} of Zeruiah {6870} [be] too hard {7186} for (4480) me: the LORD {3068} shall reward {7999} <8762> the doer (6213) of evil [6213] <8802> (7451) according to his wickedness. {7451}