Abner Defects to David
1The war between the house of Saul and the house of David went on a long time, David growing stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. 2Sons were born to David in Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel; 3his second was Chileab, by Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third was Absalom, son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; 4the fourth was Adonijah, son of Haggith; the fifth was Shephatiah, son of Abital; 5and the sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron. 6While the war between the house of Saul and the house of David went on, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. 7Now Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?” 8Abner was furious at what Ish-bosheth said and answered, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? To this day I have shown loyalty to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers and his friends, and I have not handed you over to David — and now you accuse me over this woman? 9May God punish Abner, and punish him again, if I do not do for David exactly what Yahweh swore to him — 10to take the kingdom away from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” 11Ish-bosheth could not say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him. 12Abner sent messengers to David on his own behalf, saying, “Whose land is this? Make an agreement with me, and I will help bring all Israel over to you.” 13David said, “Good, I will make an agreement with you. But I ask one thing of you: you will not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see me.” 14Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, saying, “Give me back my wife Michal, whom I acquired for a hundred Philistine foreskins.” 15So Ish-bosheth sent and had her taken from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. 16Her husband went with her, weeping as he followed her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” And he went back. 17Abner had spoken with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time now you have wanted David as your king. 18Now do it, for Yahweh has said of David, ‘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.’” 19Abner also spoke to the men of Benjamin, and then went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin wanted to do. 20Abner came to David at Hebron with twenty men, and David prepared a feast for Abner and the men with him. 21Abner said to David, “Let me go and gather all Israel to my lord the king, so they may make an agreement with you and you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he left in peace.
The Murder of Abner
22Just then David’s men and Joab returned from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away and he had left in peace. 23When Joab and the whole army with him arrived, they were told, “Abner son of Ner came to the king, and the king sent him away, and he has gone in peace.” 24Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner came to you — why did you let him go? He is already gone! 25You know Abner son of Ner — he came to deceive you, to learn your comings and goings, to find out everything you are doing.” 26Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah, though David knew nothing of it. 27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab drew him aside into the gateway to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the belly, and he died — in payment for the blood of Asahel, Joab’s brother. 28When David heard of it afterward, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before Yahweh of the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29May it fall on the head of Joab and on his whole father’s house. May the house of Joab never be without someone with a discharge or a skin disease, someone leaning on a crutch, someone falling by the sword, or someone lacking bread.” 30Joab and his brother Abishai had killed Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon. 31David said to Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the bier. 32They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner’s grave, and all the people wept. 33The king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner have died as a fool dies? 34Your hands were not bound, your feet were not put in chains. You fell as one falls before the wicked.” And all the people wept for him again. 35All the people came to urge David to eat something while it was still day, but David swore, “May God punish me, and punish me again, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down.” 36All the people took note of it, and it pleased them, just as everything the king did pleased them. 37So all the people, and all Israel, understood that day that the king had had no part in the killing of Abner son of Ner. 38The king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a great commander has fallen in Israel today? 39And I, even though I am anointed king, am weak today, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May Yahweh repay the one who did this evil according to his evil.”
