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The House of David Strengthened

¹ Now 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.² And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;³ 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;⁴ his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital;⁵ and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron.

Abner Joins David

⁷ 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?”⁸ 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!⁹ May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David as the LORD has sworn to him,¹⁰ to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”¹¹ And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him.¹² Then Abner sent messengers in his place to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be on your side to turn all Israel to you.”¹³ “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.”¹⁴ 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.”¹⁵ So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.¹⁶ Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home.¹⁷ Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king.¹⁸ Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’”¹⁹ 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.²⁰ When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them.²¹ 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.

Joab Murders Abner

²² 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.²³ 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.”²⁴ 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!²⁵ Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.”²⁶ 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.²⁷ 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.²⁸ 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.²⁹ 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.”³⁰ (Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

David Mourns for Abner