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And it came to passe while there was warre between the house of Saul and the house of Dauid, that Abner made himselfe strong for the house of Saul.

Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dogs head, which against Iudah doe shew kindnesse this day vnto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and haue not deliuered thee into the hand of Dauid, that thou chargest mee to day with a fault concerning this woman?

And Dauid sent messengers to Ishbosheth Sauls sonne, saying, Deliuer mee my wife Michal, which I espoused to mee for an hundred foreskinnes of the Philistines.

And Abner had communication with the Elders of Israel, saying, Yee sought for Dauid in times past, to be king ouer you.

Now then doe it, for the Lord hath spoken of Dauid, saying; By the hand of my seruant Dauid I will saue my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

And behold, the seruants of Dauid, and Ioab came from pursuing a troupe, and brought in a great spoile with them: (but Abner was not with Dauid in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.)

And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Ioab tooke him aside in the gate to speake with him quietly: and smote him there vnder the fift ribbe, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

And afterward when Dauid heard it, hee said, I and my kingdome are guiltlesse before the Lord for euer, from the blood of Abner the sonne of Ner:

For all the people, and all Israel vnderstood that day, that it was not of the King to slay Abner the sonne of Ner.

And I am this day weake, though anointed King, and these men the sonnes of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the Lord shall reward the doer of euill, according to his wickednesse.

And Sauls sonne had two men that were captaines of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sonnes of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Beniamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Beniamin:

For when they came into the house, hee lay on his bedde in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and tooke his head, and gate them away thorow the plaine all night.

When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, ( thinking to haue brought good tidings) I tooke hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would haue giuen him a reward for his tidings:

And Dauid perceiued that the Lord had established him King ouer Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdome for his people Israels sake.

And Dauid enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I goe vp to the Philistines? wilt thou deliuer them into mine hand? And the Lord said vnto Dauid, Goe vp: for I will doubtlesse deliuer the Philistines into thine hand.

And let it be when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulbery trees, that then thou shalt bestirre thy selfe: for then shal the Lord goe out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

And when they came to Nachons threshing floore, Uzzah put forth his hand to the Arke of God, and tooke hold of it, for the oxen shooke it.

And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God smote him there for his errour, and there he died by the Arke of God.

And they brought in the Arke of the Lord, and set it in his place, in the midst of the Tabernacle that Dauid had pitched for it: and Dauid offered burnt offerings, and peace offrings before the Lord.

And Nathan sayde to the King, Go, doe all that is in thine heart: for the Lord is with thee.