2 Samuel 3:1-21

1Now there was longH752 warH4421 between the houseH1004 of SaulH7586 and the houseH1004 of DavidH1732: but DavidH1732 waxedH1980 strongerH2390 and strongerH2390, and the houseH1004 of SaulH7586 waxedH1980 weakerH1800 and weakerH1800.

2And unto DavidH1732 were sonsH1121 bornH3205 in HebronH2275: and his firstbornH1060 was AmnonH550, of AhinoamH293 the JezreelitessH3159; 3And his secondH4932, ChileabH3609, of AbigailH26 the wifeH802 of NabalH5037 the CarmeliteH3761; and the thirdH7992, AbsalomH53 the sonH1121 of MaacahH4601 the daughterH1323 of TalmaiH8526 kingH4428 of GeshurH1650;1 4And the fourthH7243, AdonijahH138 the sonH1121 of HaggithH2294; and the fifthH2549, ShephatiahH8203 the sonH1121 of AbitalH37; 5And the sixthH8345, IthreamH3507, by EglahH5698 David’sH1732 wifeH802. These were bornH3205 to DavidH1732 in HebronH2275.

6And it came to pass, while there was warH4421 between the houseH1004 of SaulH7586 and the houseH1004 of DavidH1732, that AbnerH74 made himself strongH2388 for the houseH1004 of SaulH7586. 7And SaulH7586 had a concubineH6370, whose nameH8034 was RizpahH7532, the daughterH1323 of AiahH345: and Ish–bosheth saidH559 to AbnerH74, Wherefore hast thou gone inH935 unto my father’sH1 concubineH6370? 8Then was AbnerH74 veryH3966 wrothH2734 for the wordsH1697 of Ish–boshethH378, and saidH559, Am I a dog’sH3611 headH7218, which against JudahH3063 do shewH6213 kindnessH2617 this dayH3117 unto the houseH1004 of SaulH7586 thy fatherH1, to his brethrenH251, and to his friendsH4828, and have not deliveredH4672 thee into the handH3027 of DavidH1732, that thou chargestH6485 me to dayH3117 with a faultH5771 concerning this womanH802? 9So doH6213 GodH430 to AbnerH74, and more alsoH3254, except, as YhwhH3068 hath swornH7650 to DavidH1732, even so I doH6213 to him; 10To translateH5674 the kingdomH4467 from the houseH1004 of SaulH7586, and to set upH6965 the throneH3678 of DavidH1732 over IsraelH3478 and over JudahH3063, from DanH1835 even to Beer–shebaH884. 11And he couldH3201 not answerH7725 AbnerH74 a wordH1697 again, because he fearedH3372 him.

12And AbnerH74 sentH7971 messengersH4397 to DavidH1732 on his behalf, sayingH559, Whose is the landH776? sayingH559 also, MakeH3772 thy leagueH1285 with me, and, behold, my handH3027 shall be with thee, to bring aboutH5437 all IsraelH3478 unto thee.

13And he saidH559, WellH2896; I will makeH3772 a leagueH1285 with thee: but oneH259 thingH1697 I requireH7592 of thee, that isH559, Thou shalt not seeH7200 my faceH6440, except thou firstH6440 bringH935 MichalH4324 Saul’sH7586 daughterH1323, when thou comestH935 to seeH7200 my faceH6440.2 14And DavidH1732 sentH7971 messengersH4397 to Ish–boshethH378 Saul’sH7586 sonH1121, sayingH559, DeliverH5414 me my wifeH802 MichalH4324, which I espousedH781 to me for an hundredH3967 foreskinsH6190 of the PhilistinesH6430. 15And Ish–boshethH378 sentH7971, and tookH3947 her from her husbandH376, even from PhaltielH6409 the sonH1121 of LaishH3919H3889.3 16And her husbandH376 wentH3212 with her along weepingH1058H1980 behindH310 her to BahurimH980. Then saidH559 AbnerH74 unto him, GoH3212, returnH7725. And he returnedH7725.4

17And AbnerH74 had communicationH1697H1961 with the eldersH2205 of IsraelH3478, sayingH559, Ye soughtH1245 for DavidH1732 in timesH8543 pastH8032 to be kingH4428 over you:5 18Now then doH6213 it: for YhwhH3068 hath spokenH559 of DavidH1732, sayingH559, By the handH3027 of my servantH5650 DavidH1732 I will saveH3467 my peopleH5971 IsraelH3478 out of the handH3027 of the PhilistinesH6430, and out of the handH3027 of all their enemiesH341. 19And AbnerH74 also spakeH1696 in the earsH241 of BenjaminH1144: and AbnerH74 wentH3212 also to speakH1696 in the earsH241 of DavidH1732 in HebronH2275 all that seemedH5869 goodH2896 to IsraelH3478, and that seemed goodH5869 to the whole houseH1004 of BenjaminH1144. 20So AbnerH74 cameH935 to DavidH1732 to HebronH2275, and twentyH6242 menH582 with him. And DavidH1732 madeH6213 AbnerH74 and the menH582 that were with him a feastH4960. 21And AbnerH74 saidH559 unto DavidH1732, I will ariseH6965 and goH3212, and will gatherH6908 all IsraelH3478 unto my lordH113 the kingH4428, that they may makeH3772 a leagueH1285 with thee, and that thou mayest reignH4427 over all that thine heartH5315 desirethH183. And DavidH1732 sentH7971 AbnerH74 awayH7971; and he wentH3212 in peaceH7965.