1 facta est ergo longa concertatio
inter domum Saul et inter domum David
David proficiens et semper se ipso robustior
domus autem Saul decrescens cotidie
2 nati quoque sunt filii David in Hebron
fuitque primogenitus eius Amnon de Ahinoem Iezrahelitide
3 et post eum Chelaab de Abigail uxore Nabal Carmeli
porro tertius Absalom filius Maacha filiae Tholomai regis Gessur
4 quartus autem Adonias filius Aggith
et quintus Safathia filius Abital
5 sextus quoque Iethraam de Agla uxore David
hii nati sunt David in Hebron
6 cum ergo esset proelium inter domum Saul et domum David
Abner filius Ner regebat domum Saul
7 fuerat autem Sauli concubina nomine Respha filia Ahia
dixitque Hisboseth ad Abner
8 quare ingressus es ad concubinam patris mei
qui iratus nimis propter verba Hisboseth ait
numquid caput canis ego sum adversum Iuda hodie
qui fecerim misericordiam super domum Saul patris tui
et super fratres et proximos eius
et non tradidi te in manu David
et tu requisisti in me quod argueres pro muliere hodie
9 haec faciat Deus Abner et haec addat ei
nisi quomodo iuravit Dominus David sic faciam cum eo
10 ut transferatur regnum de domo Saul
et elevetur thronus David super Israhel et super Iudam
a Dan usque Bersabee
11 et non potuit respondere ei quicquam quia metuebat illum
12 misit ergo Abner nuntios ad David pro se dicentes cuius est terra
et loquerentur fac mecum amicitias et erit manus mea
tecum
et reducam ad te universum Israhel
13 qui ait optime ego faciam tecum amicitias
sed unam rem peto a te dicens
non videbis faciem meam antequam adduxeris Michol filiam Saul
et sic venies et videbis me
14 misit autem David nuntios ad Hisboseth filium Saul dicens
redde uxorem meam Michol
quam despondi mihi centum praeputiis Philisthim
15 misit ergo Hisboseth et tulit eam a viro suo Faltihel filio Lais
16 sequebaturque eam vir suus plorans usque Baurim
et dixit ad eum Abner vade revertere qui reversus est
17 sermonem quoque intulit Abner ad seniores Israhel dicens
tam heri quam nudius tertius quaerebatis David
ut regnaret super vos
18 nunc ergo facite quoniam Dominus locutus est ad David dicens
in manu servi mei David salvabo populum meum Israhel
de manu Philisthim et omnium inimicorum eius
19 locutus est autem Abner etiam ad Beniamin
et abiit ut loqueretur ad David in Hebron omnia
quae placuerant Israhel et universo
Beniamin
20 venitque ad David in Hebron cum viginti viris
et fecit David Abner et viris eius qui venerant cum eo convivium
21 et dixit Abner ad David
surgam ut congregem ad te dominum meum regem omnem Israhel
et ineam tecum foedus et imperes omnibus sicut desiderat anima tua
cum ergo deduxisset David Abner et ille isset in pace
22 statim pueri David et Ioab venerunt caesis latronibus
cum praeda magna nimis
Abner autem non erat cum David in Hebron
quia iam dimiserat eum et profectus fuerat in pace
23 et Ioab et omnis exercitus qui erat cum eo postea venerant
nuntiatum est itaque Ioab a narrantibus
venit Abner filius Ner ad regem et dimisit eum et abiit in pace
24 et ingressus est Ioab ad regem et ait
quid fecisti ecce venit Abner ad te
quare dimisisti eum et abiit et recessit
25 ignoras Abner filium Ner quoniam ad hoc venit ut deciperet
te
et sciret exitum tuum et introitum tuum et nosset omnia quae agis
26 egressus itaque Ioab a David
misit nuntios post Abner et reduxit eum a cisterna Sira
ignorante David
27 cumque redisset Abner in Hebron
seorsum abduxit eum Ioab ad medium portae
ut loqueretur ei in dolo
et percussit illum ibi in inguine
et mortuus est in ultionem sanguinis Asahel fratris eius
28 quod cum audisset David rem iam gestam ait
mundus ego sum et regnum meum apud Dominum
usque in sempiternum
a sanguine Abner filii Ner
29 et veniat super caput Ioab et super omnem domum patris eius
nec deficiat de domo Ioab fluxum seminis sustinens et leprosus
tenens fusum et cadens gladio et indigens pane
30 igitur Ioab et Abisai frater eius interfecerunt Abner
eo quod occidisset Asahel fratrem eorum in Gabaon in proelio
31 dixit autem David ad Ioab et ad omnem populum qui erat cum eo
scindite vestimenta vestra et accingimini saccis
et plangite ante exequias Abner
porro rex David sequebatur feretrum
32 cumque sepelissent Abner in Hebron
levavit rex vocem suam et flevit super tumulum Abner
flevit autem et omnis populus
33 plangensque rex Abner ait
nequaquam ut mori solent ignavi mortuus est Abner
34 manus tuae non sunt ligatae
et pedes tui non sunt conpedibus adgravati
sed sicut solent cadere coram filiis iniquitatis corruisti
congeminansque omnis populus flevit super eum
35 cumque venisset universa multitudo
cibum capere cum David clara adhuc die
iuravit David dicens haec faciat mihi Deus et haec addat
si ante occasum solis gustavero panem vel aliud quicquam
36 omnisque populus audivit
et placuerunt eis cuncta quae fecit rex in conspectu totius populi
37 et cognovit omne vulgus et universus Israhel in die illa
quoniam non actum fuisset a rege ut occideretur Abner filius Ner
38 dixit quoque rex ad servos suos
num ignoratis quoniam princeps et maximus cecidit hodie in Israhel
39 ego autem adhuc delicatus et unctus rex
porro viri isti filii Sarviae duri mihi sunt
retribuat Dominus facienti malum iuxta malitiam suam
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.