1 NOW there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
2 And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
3 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
6 And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.
7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father’s concubine?
8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog’s head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?
9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the Lord hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;
10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba.
11 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.
12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
13 And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face.
14 And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
15 And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.
16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.
17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:
18 Now then do it: for the Lord hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.
19 And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.
20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.
21 And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
22 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
23 When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.
26 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
29 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.
32 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
33 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
34 Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.
35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.
37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.
38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
39 And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

1Now there was long war betweene the house of Saul, and the house of Dauid: but Dauid waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

2 And vnto Dauid were sonnes borne in Hebron: and his first borne was Ammon, of Ahinoam the Iezreelitesse.

3And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite: and the third, Absalom the sonne of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

4And the fourth, Adoniiah the son of Haggith: and the fifth, Shephatiah the sonne of Abital;

5And the sixth, Ithream by Eglah Dauids wife: these were borne to Dauid in Hebron.

6 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.

7And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth saide to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in vnto my fathers concubine?

8Then 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?

9So doe God to Abner, and more also, except, as the Lord hath sworne to Dauid, euen so I doe to him:

10To translate the kingdome from the house of Saul, and to set vp the throne of Dauid ouer Israel, and ouer Iudah, from Dan euen to Beer-sheba.

11And he could not answere Abner a word againe, because he feared him.

12 And Abner sent messengers to Dauid on his behalfe, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and behold, my hand shall bee with thee, to bring about all Israel vnto thee.

13 And he said, Well, I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Sauls daughter, when thou commest to see my face.

14And 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.

15And Ishbosheth sent, and tooke her from her husband, euen from Phaltiel the sonne of Laish.

16And her husband went with her along weeping behinde her to Bahurim: then said Abner vnto him, Goe, returne. And he returned.

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

18Now 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.

19And Abner also spake in the eares of Beniamin: and Abner went also to speake in the eares of Dauid in Hebron, all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Beniamin.

20So Abner came to Dauid to Hebron, and twenty men with him: and Dauid made Abner, and the men that were with him, a feast.

21And Abner said vnto Dauid, I will arise, and goe, and will gather all Israel vnto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest raigne ouer all that thine heart desireth. And Dauid sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

22 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.)

23When Ioab and all the host that was with him, were come, they told Ioab, saying, Abner the sonne of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

24Then Ioab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came vnto thee, why is it that thou hast sent him away, & he is quite gone?

25Thou knowest Abner the sonne of Ner, that he came to deceiue thee, and to know thy going out, and thy comming in, & to know all that thou doest.

26And when Ioab was come out from Dauid, hee sent messengers after Abner, which brought him againe from the well of Siriah; but Dauid knew it not.

27And 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.

28 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:

29Let it rest on the head of Ioab, and on all his fathers house, & let there not faile from the house of Ioab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staffe, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

30So Ioab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slaine their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battell.

31 And Dauid said to Ioab, and to all the people that were with him, Rent your clothes, and girde you with sackecloth, and mourne before Abner. And king Dauid himselfe followed the biere.

32And they buried Abner in Hebron, and the king lift vp his voice, and wept at the graue of Abner; and all the people wept.

33And the king lamented ouer Abner, and said, Died Abner as a foole dieth?

34Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feete put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept againe ouer him.

35And when all the people came to cause Dauid to eate meate while it was yet day, Dauid sware, saying, So doe God to mee, and more also, if I taste bread or ought else, till the Sunne be downe.

36And all the people tooke notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoeuer the King did, pleased all the people.

37For all the people, and all Israel vnderstood that day, that it was not of the King to slay Abner the sonne of Ner.

38And the King said vnto his seruants, Knowe yee not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

39And 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.

 

 

 

II == 1st Sam 25:43 ; 1st Chr 3:1-4

III == 1st Sam 27:8 ; 2nd Sam 13:27 ; 1st Chr 3:1

 

IV == 1st Kings 1:5

 

 

 

 

 

VII == 2nd Sam 16:21 ; 21:8 , 10

 

 

VIII == Deut 23:18 ; 1st Sam 24:14 ; 2nd Sam 9:8 ; 16:9

 

 

 

 

IX == Ruth 1:17 ; 1st Sam 15:28 ; 16:1 , 12 ; 28:17 ;1st Kings 19:2 ; 1st Chr 12:23

X == Judg 20:1 ; 2nd Sam 17:11 ; 1st Kings 4:25

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIII == Gen 43:3 ; 1st Sam 18:20

 

 

XIV == 1st Sam 18:25 , 27

 

 

XV == 1st Sam 25:44

 

XVI == 2nd Sam 19:16

 

 

 

 

XVIII == 2nd Sam 3:9

 

 

XIX == 1st Chr 12:29

 

 

 

 

 

XXI == 2nd Sam 3:10 , 12 ; 1st Kings 11:37

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXV == 1st Sam 29:6 ; Isa 37:28

 

 

 

 

 

XXVII == 2nd Sam 2:23 ; 4:6 ; 20:9-10 ; 1st Kings 2:5

 

 

 

 

XXIX == Lev 15:2 ; 1st Kings 2:32-33

 

 

 

XXX == 2nd Sam 2:23

XXXI == Gen 37:24 ; Josh 7:6 ; 2nd Sam 1:2 , 11

 

 

 

 

XXXIII == 2nd Sam 13:12-13

 

 

 

 

XXXV == Ruth 1:17 ; 2nd Sam 1:12 12:17 ; Jer 16:7

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXIX 2nd Sam 19:7 , 13 : 1st Kings 2:5-6 , 33-34 ; Ps 28:4 ; 62:12 ; 2nd Tim 4:14

 

 

 

1 There followed a long war between the house of Saul and that of David, in which David grew stronger, but the house of Saul weaker.

2 Sons were born to David in Hebron: his first-born, Amnon, of Ahinoam from Jezreel;

3 the second, Chileab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom, son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;

4 the fourth, Adonijah, son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah, son of Abital;

5 and the sixth, Ithream, of David's wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.

6 During the war between the house of Saul and that of David, Abner was gaining power in the house of Saul.

7 Now Saul had had a concubine, Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbaal, son of Saul, said to Abner, "Why have you been intimate with my father's concubine?"

8 Enraged at the words of Ishbaal, Abner said, "Am I a dog's head in Judah? At present I am doing a kindness to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers and his friends, by keeping you out of David's clutches; yet this day you charge me with a crime involving a woman!

9 May God do thus and so to Abner if I do not carry out for David what the LORD swore to him - 

10 that is, take away the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah from Dan to Beersheba."

11 In his fear of Abner, Ishbaal was no longer able to say a word to him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers to David in Telam, where he was at the moment, to say, "Make an agreement with me, and I will aid you by bringing all Israel over to you."

13 He replied, "Very well, I will make an agreement with you. But one thing I require of you. You must not appear before me unless you bring back Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to present yourself to me."

14 At the same time David sent messengers to Ishbaal, son of Saul, to say, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I espoused by paying a hundred Philistine foreskins."

15 Ishbaal sent for her and took her away from her husband Paltiel, son of Laish,

16 who followed her weeping as far as Bahurim. But Abner said to him, "Go back!" And he turned back.

17 Abner then said in discussion with the elders of Israel: "For a long time you have been seeking David as your king.

18 Now take action, for the LORD has said of David, 'By my servant David I will save my people Israel from the grasp of the Philistines and from the grasp of all their enemies.'"

19 Abner also spoke personally to Benjamin, and then went to make his own report to David in Hebron concerning all that would be agreeable to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.

20 When Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a feast for Abner and for the men who were with him.

21 Then Abner said to David, "I will now go to assemble all Israel for my lord the king, that they may make an agreement with you; you will then be king over all whom you wish to rule." So David bade Abner farewell, and he went away in peace.

22 Just then David's servants and Joab were coming in from an expedition, bringing much plunder with them. Abner, having been dismissed by David, was no longer with him in Hebron but had gone his way in peace.

23 When Joab and the whole force he had with him arrived, he was informed, "Abner, son of Ner, came to David; he has been sent on his way in peace."

24 So Joab went to the king and said: "What have you done? Abner came to you. Why did you let him go peacefully on his way?

25 Are you not aware that Abner came to deceive you and to learn the ins and outs of all that you are doing?"

26 Joab then left David, and without David's knowledge sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the cistern of Sirah.

27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside within the city gate as though to speak with him privately. There he stabbed him in the abdomen, and he died in revenge for the killing of Joab's brother Asahel.

28 Later David heard of it and said: "Before the LORD; I and my kingdom are forever innocent.

29 May the full responsibility for the death of Abner, son of Ner, be laid to Joab and to all his family. May the men of Joab's family never be without one suffering from a discharge, or a leper, or one unmanly, one falling by the sword, or one in need of bread!"

30 (Joab and his brother Abishai had lain in wait for Abner because he killed their brother Asahel in battle at Gibeon.)

31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, "Rend your garments, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn over Abner." King David himself followed the bier.

32 When they had buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at the grave of Abner, and the people also wept.

33 And the king sang this elegy over Abner: "Would Abner have died like a fool?

34 Your hands were not bound with chains, nor your feet placed in fetters; As men fall before the wicked, you fell." And all the people continued to weep for him.

35 Then they went to console David with food while it was still day. But David swore, "May God do thus and so to me if I eat bread or anything else before sunset."

36 All the people noted this with approval, just as they were pleased with everything that the king did.

37 So on that day all the people and all Israel came to know that the king had no part in the killing of Abner, son of Ner.

38 The king then said to his servants: "You must recognize that a great general has fallen today in Israel.

39 Although I am the anointed king, I am weak this day, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too ruthless for me. May the LORD requite the evildoer in accordance with his evil deed."

v 1-5. David was gradually gaining the upper hand in the battles. The listing of his wives indicates a power struggle, particularly the marriage alliance with the king of Geshur, northeast of the Sea of Chinnereth, for his daughter. This would be a threat to Ishbosheth’s army. Their son, Absalom was later a source of grief to David, chapter 15.

 

 

 

 

v 6-12. Meanwhile, Abner was also in a power play as he went in to Ishbosheth’s father’s concubine, a gesture indicating he would take over the kingdom of Saul. We can not be certain whether or not he was actually guilty of this, but when he was confronted by Ishbosheth, he angrily declared he would quit supporting the kingdom of Saul and draw the kingdom of Saul over to David. Ishbosheth was fearful of trying to stop him, and Abner sent messengers offering his support to David.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 13-16. Now that David had other wives, it seems almost cruel that he took Michal away from the husband who loved her so much, but to establish his undisputed right as a king, it was necessary. The same thing was at issue with Ishbosheth in v 7, and when Adonijah wheedled Bathsheba into asking Solomon to give him Abishag the Shunamite for a wife. 1 Kings 2:13-23.

 

 

 

 

 

v 17-21. Abner now seeks to persuade the elders of Israel and especially Saul’s own tribe, Benjamin, by acknowledging that the Lord had chosen David. Too bad he didn’t tell them that at first instead of seeking his own prominence. Scripture does not specifically state that the Lord said David would deliver them from the Philistines, but his anointing by Samuel allows that inference. At the feast David made for Abner and his twenty men, Abner pledged to bring Israel under David’s reign.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 22-25. David’s loyal followers returned from some victory with great spoils and learned Abner had been there and gone in peace. Joab was particularly angry, and chided David, saying Abner had come as a spy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 26-30. Without David’s knowledge, Joab sent for Abner and took him aside as though he had a private message for him. Instead he killed him for having killed Asahel in battle. David declared his kingdom innocent in that deceptive deed and pronounced a curse upon Joab and his family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 31-34. David commanded Joab and the rest of the people to go into mourning over Abner, and he personally followed the bier. David and all the people wept at the grave as David denounced the shameful way in which Abner was slain. This was doubly sneaky and treacherous, because Abner had come into Hebron, a city of refuge, but Joab called him aside to the gate, just a step out of protection of the law.

 

 

 

 

v 35-37. In respect and mourning, David refused to eat until after the sun went down. This pleased the people and made them to understand that this evil deed was none of David’s fault.

 

 

 

 

v 38,39. David’s kingdom was still shaky, and he didn’t know how to deal with his militarily powerful nephews, so he placed them into God’s hands for judgment. This was a reprieve and David instructed Solomon to carry out the judgment, 1 Ki. 2:5,6. Actually, as the leader of the land, David should have trusted God to help him in his responsibility of bringing immediate judgment upon Joab, and it might have prevented the deaths of Ishbosheth, Amnon and others.