1There was a long war between the family of Saul and the family of David. David grew stronger and stronger, while the family of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
2Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born to Ahinoam from Jezreel.
3His second was Chileab, born to Abigail, Nabal the Carmelite’s widow. His third was Absalom, son of Maacah, who was the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.
4His fourth was Adonijah, son of Haggith. His fifth was Shephatiah, son of Abital.
5And his sixth was Ithream, born to Eglah, David’s wife. These sons were born to David in Hebron.
6As the war continued between Saul’s family and David’s family, Abner gained more power within Saul’s family.
7Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah. Ish-Bosheth asked Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”
8Abner became very angry at Ish-Bosheth’s words and said, “Am I nothing but a dog’s head who supports Judah? Today I am loyal to your father Saul’s family, his brothers, and his friends, and I haven’t handed you over to David. Yet today you accuse me of a crime concerning this woman!
9May God punish me severely if I do not do for David exactly what Yahweh swore to him:
10to take the kingdom away from Saul’s family and establish David’s throne over all of Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”
11Ish-Bosheth couldn’t say another word to Abner because he was afraid of him.
12Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, "Whose side is the land on?" He also said, "Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all of Israel over to your side."
13David said, "Good. I will make a treaty with you, but I require one thing from you. You will not see me unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to meet me."
14David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, "Give me back my wife Michal, whom I married by killing one hundred Philistines."
15Ishbosheth sent for her and took her from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish.
16Her husband went with her, crying as he walked, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner told him, "Go back home!" and he returned.
17Abner spoke with the elders of Israel, saying, "In the past, you wanted David to be your king."
18Now is the time to make it happen; for Yahweh has promised about David, saying, ‘Through my servant David, I will rescue my people Israel from the Philistines and from all their enemies.’"
19Abner also spoke to the people of Benjamin. Then Abner went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the entire house of Benjamin had agreed upon.
20So Abner came to David in Hebron with twenty men. David prepared a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.
21Abner said to David, "I will go now and gather all of Israel to my lord the king, so they can make a covenant with you, and you can rule over everything you desire." David sent Abner away, and he left in peace.
22Just then, David’s servants and Joab returned from a raid, bringing many valuable things with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had left in peace.
23When Joab and all the soldiers with him arrived, they were told, "Abner son of Ner came to the King, and the King sent him away, and he left peacefully."
24Then Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Abner came to you. Why did you send him away, and now he is gone?
25You know Abner son of Ner. He came to trick you, to find out where you go and where you come from, and to learn everything you do."
26After Joab left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know about it.
27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside inside the city gate to speak with him privately, and there he stabbed him in the stomach, killing him, to avenge the death of his brother Asahel.
28Later, when David heard about it, he said, "My kingdom and I are forever innocent before Yahweh of the blood of Abner son of Ner.
29May the blame for this fall on Joab and all his family. May there always be someone in Joab's family who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who leans on a crutch, or who dies by the sword, or who has no food."
30So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in battle.
31David said to Joab and to all the people with him, "Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn for Abner." King David himself followed the coffin.
32They buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried aloud at Abner's grave, and all the people cried.
33The king mourned for Abner and asked, "Should Abner die like a fool?
34Your hands were not tied, and your feet were not put in chains. You fell as someone falls to wicked people." All the people cried over him again.
35All the people came to urge David to eat food while it was still daylight. But David swore, saying, "May God punish me severely if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets."
36All the people noticed this, and they were pleased with it, just as everything the king did pleased all the people.
37So all the people and all Israel understood that day that the king was not responsible for killing Abner, the son of Ner.
38The king said to his servants, "Don't you know that today a leader and a great man has died in Israel?
39Today I am weak, even though I have been appointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too much for me to handle. May Yahweh punish the evildoer for his wickedness."