2 Samuel 3:7-21

7Now SaulH7586 had a concubineH6370 namedH8034 RizpahH7532, the daughterH1323 of AiahH345. So Ish-bosheth questionedH559 AbnerH74, “WhyH4069 did you sleep withH935H413 my father’sH1 concubineH6370?”

8AbnerH74 was furiousH3966H2734 overH5921 Ish-bosheth’sH378 accusationH1697. “Am IH595 the headH7218 of a dogH3611 thatH834 belongs to JudahH3063?” he askedH559. “All this timeH3117 I have been loyalH6213H2617 toH5973 the houseH1004 of your fatherH1 SaulH7586, toH413 his brothersH251, and toH413 his friendsH4828. I have notH3808 delivered youH4672 into the handH3027 of DavidH1732, but nowH3117 you accuseH6485 meH5921 of wrongdoingH5771 with this womanH802! 9May GodH430 punishH3541H6213 AbnerH74, and ever soH3541 severelyH3254, ifH3588 I do not doH6213 for DavidH1732H3588H3651 whatH834 the LORDH3068 has sworn to himH7650: 10to transferH5674 the kingdomH4467 from the houseH1004 of SaulH7586 and to establishH6965 the throneH3678 of DavidH1732 overH5921 IsraelH3478H5921 and JudahH3063, from DanH1835 toH5704 BeershebaH884.”

11And for fearH3372 of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dareH3201H5750H3808 to sayH7725 another wordH1697 toH74 him.

12Then AbnerH74 sentH7971 messengersH4397 on his behalfH8478 to sayH559 toH413 DavidH1732, “To whomH4310 does the landH776H559 belong? MakeH3772 your covenantH1285 with meH854, and surelyH2009 my handH3027 will be with youH5973 to bringH5437 allH3605 IsraelH3478 over to youH413.”

13“GoodH2896,” replied DavidH559, “IH589 will makeH3772 a covenantH1285 with youH854. ButH389 there is oneH259 thingH1697 IH595 requireH7592 of youH854H559: Do notH3808 appearH7200 before meH6440 unlessH518H6440 you bringH935 Saul’sH7586 daughterH1323 MichalH4324 when you comeH935 to see meH7200.”

14Then DavidH1732 sentH7971 messengersH4397 to sayH559 toH413 Ish-boshethH378 sonH1121 of SaulH7586, “GiveH5414 meH853 back my wifeH802, MichalH4324, whomH834 I betrothedH781 to myself for a hundredH3967 PhilistineH6430 foreskinsH6190.”

15So Ish-boshethH378 sentH7971 and tookH3947 Michal fromH5973 her husbandH376H5973 PaltielH64091 sonH1121 of LaishH3889. 16Her husbandH376H1980 followedH1980H854 herH310, weepingH1058 all the way toH5704 BahurimH980. Then AbnerH74H1980 saidH559 to himH413, “Go backH7725.” So he returnedH7725 home.

17Now AbnerH74H1961 conferredH1697 withH5973 the eldersH2205 of IsraelH3478 and saidH559, “In the pastH8543H1571H8032H1961 you soughtH1245 DavidH1732 as your kingH4428H5921. 18NowH6258 take actionH6213, becauseH3588 the LORDH3068 has saidH559 toH413 DavidH1732H559, ‘ThroughH3027 My servantH5650 DavidH1732 I will saveH3467 My peopleH5971 IsraelH3478 from the handsH3027 of the PhilistinesH6430 and of allH3605 their enemiesH341.’”

19AbnerH74H241 alsoH1571 spoke toH1696 the BenjamitesH1144. Then he wentH1980H1571H74 to HebronH2275 to tellH1696H241 DavidH1732 allH3605 thatH834 seemed goodH2895H5869 to IsraelH3478H5869 and to the wholeH3605 houseH1004 of BenjaminH1144. 20When AbnerH74 and twentyH6242 of his menH582 cameH935 toH413 DavidH1732 at HebronH2275H854, DavidH1732 heldH6213 a feastH4960 for themH74H582.

21Then AbnerH74 saidH559 toH413 DavidH1732H6965, “Let me go at onceH1980, and I will gatherH6908 allH3605 IsraelH3478 toH413 my lordH113 the kingH4428, that they may makeH3772 a covenantH1285 with youH854, and that you may ruleH4427 over allH3605 thatH834 your heartH5315 desiresH183.”

So DavidH1732 dismissedH7971 AbnerH74, and he wentH1980 in peaceH7965.