2 Samuel 3
Abner Died as a Fool Dies
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The Sons Born to David in Hebron
3:1The war between Saul’s house and David’s house lasted a long time. David’s house grew stronger and stronger, while Saul’s house grew weaker and weaker.
3:2Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelite;
3:3his second was Daluia, by Abigail the Carmelite; and the third was Absalom son of Maacah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
3:4the fourth was Ornia son of Phengith; and the fifth was Sabatia, by Abital;
3:5and the sixth was Ithream, by Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
Abner Turns Against the House of Saul
3:6While there was war between Saul’s house and David’s house, Abner was holding power over Saul’s house.
3:7Saul had a concubine, Rizpah daughter of Ial. Mephibosheth son of Saul said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”
3:8Abner became very angry over Mephibosheth’s statement. Abner said to him, “Am I a dog’s head? Today I have shown mercy to the house of Saul your father, and toward brothers and acquaintances, and I have not deserted to David’s house. Yet today you call me to account for wrongdoing concerning a woman!
3:9May God do these things to Abner, and add these things to him, for just as the Lord swore to David, so I will do for him this very day:
3:10to remove the kingdom from Saul’s house and raise up David’s throne over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”
3:11Mephibosheth could no longer answer Abner a word, because he feared him.
Abner Makes a Covenant with David
3:12Abner sent messengers to David at Thailam, where he was at the time, saying, “Make your covenant with me, and look, my hand will be with you to turn all the house of Israel to you.”
3:13David said, “I will gladly make a covenant with you. But I ask one thing of you: you will not see my face unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see my face.”
3:14David sent messengers to Mephibosheth son of Saul, saying, “Give me back my wife Michal, whom I obtained for a hundred foreskins of foreigners.”
3:15Mephibosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel son of Selles.
3:16Her husband went with her, weeping behind her as far as Barakim. Abner said to him, “Go back.” He went back.
3:17Abner said to Israel’s elders, “In days past you were seeking David to reign over you.
3:18Now act, for the Lord spoke concerning David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David I will save Israel from the hand of foreigners and from the hand of all their enemies.’”
3:19Abner spoke in Benjamin’s hearing. Abner went to speak in David’s hearing at Hebron about everything that pleased Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.
3:20Abner came to David at Hebron with twenty men. David made a drinking feast for Abner and the men with him.
3:21Abner said to David, “I will rise now and go and gather all Israel to my lord the king. I will make a covenant with you, and you will reign over all that your soul desires.” David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
Joab Kills Abner at the Gate
3:22Look, David’s servants and Joab were arriving from an expedition, bringing much spoil with them. Abner was not with David in Hebron, for David had sent him away and he had departed in peace.
3:23Joab and all his army were brought in. Joab was told, “Abner son of Ner has come to David, and he has sent him away, and he departed in peace.”
3:24Joab came in to the king and said, “What is this you have done? Look, Abner came to you! Why have you sent him away, and he has departed in peace?
3:25Do you not know the wickedness of Abner son of Ner? He came to deceive you, to learn your going out and your coming in, and to learn everything you are doing.”
3:26Joab returned from David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Seiram, but David did not know.
3:27Abner returned to Hebron. Joab took him aside beside the gate to speak with him while lying in wait, and struck him there in the loins. He died for the blood of Asahel, Joab’s brother.
David Curses the House of Joab
3:28Afterward David heard and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord of the blood of Abner son of Ner.
3:29Let it fall upon Joab’s head and upon his father’s whole house. May Joab’s house never lack someone with a seminal discharge, someone who is leprous, someone holding a staff, someone falling by the sword, or someone lacking bread.”
3:30Joab and Abishai his brother kept watch for Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.
David’s Lament over Abner
3:31David said to Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your garments, put on sackcloth, and beat yourselves in mourning before Abner.” King David walked behind the bier.
3:32They buried Abner in Hebron. The king lifted his voice and wept at his grave, and all the people wept over Abner.
3:33The king lamented over Abner and said, “Should Abner die according to Nabal’s death?
3:34Your hands were not bound;
your feet were not in fetters.
He did not bring near, as Nabal;
before men of injustice you fell.” All the people gathered to weep over him.
3:35All the people came to have David eat a funeral meal with bread while it was still day. David swore, “May God do these things to me, and add these things: unless the sun sets, I will certainly not taste bread or anything at all.”
3:36All the people understood, and everything the king did before the people pleased them.
3:37All the people and all Israel knew that day that putting Abner son of Ner to death had not come from the king.
3:38The king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a great leader has fallen this day in Israel,
3:39and that today I am a kinsman and one appointed by a king? But these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are harder than I. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V2 · working draft awaiting specialist review.