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The Second
Book of Samuel 3
Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and
the house of David: David prospering and growing always
stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul decaying
daily.
And sons were born to David in Hebron: and his firstborn
was Amnon of Achinoam the Jezrahelitess:
And his second Cheleab of Abigail the wife of Nabal
of Carmel: and the third Absalom the son of Maacha the
daughter of Tholmai king of Gessur:
And the fourth Adonias, the son of Haggith: and the
fifth Saphathia the son of Abital:
And the sixth Jethraam of Egla the wife of David: these
were born to David in Hebron.
Now while there was war between the house of Saul and
the house of David, Abner the son of Ner ruled the house
of Saul.
And Saul had a concubine named Respha, the daughter
of Aia. And Isboseth said to Abner:
Why didst thou go in to my father's concubine? And he
was exceedingly angry for the words of Isboseth, and
said: Am I a dog's head against Juda this day, who have
shewn mercy to the house of Saul thy father, and to
his brethren and friends, and have not delivered thee
into the hands of David, and hast thou sought this day
against me to charge me with a matter concerning a woman?
So do God to Abner, and more also, unless as the Lord
hath sworn to David, so I do to him,
That the kingdom be translated from the house of Saul,
and the throne of David be set up over Israel, and over
Juda from Dan to Bersabee.
And he could not answer him a word, because he feared
him.
Abner therefore sent messengers to David for himself,
saying: Whose is the land? and that they should say:
Make a league with me, and my hand shall be with thee:
and I will bring all Israel to thee.
And he said: Very well: I will make a league with thee:
but one thing I require of thee, saying: Thou shalt
not see my face before thou bring Michol the daughter
of Saul: and so thou shalt come, and see me.
And David sent messengers to Isboseth the son of Saul,
saying: Restore my wife Michol, whom I espoused to me
for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
And Isboseth sent, and took her from her husband Phaltiel,
the son of Lais.
And her husband followed her, weeping as far as Bahurim:
and Abner said to him: Go and return. And he returned.
Abner also spoke to the ancients of Israel, saying:
Both yesterday and the day before you sought for David
that he might reign over you.
Now then do it: because the Lord hath spoken to David,
saying: By the hand of my servant David I will save
my people Israel from the hands of the Philistines,
and of all their enemies.
And Abner spoke also to Benjamin. And he went to speak
to David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and
to all Benjamin.
And he came to David in Hebron with twenty men: and
David made a feast for Abner, and his men that came
with him.
And Abner said to David: I will rise, that I may gather
all Israel unto thee my lord the king, and may enter
into a league with thee, and that thou mayst reign over
all as thy soul desireth. Now when David bad brought
Abner on his way, and he was gone in peace,
Immediately David's servants and Joab came, after having
slain the robbers, with an exceeding great booty: and
Abner, was not with David in Hebron, for he had now
sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
And Joab and all the army that was with him, came afterwards:
and it was told Joab, that Abner the son of Ner came
to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone
in peace.
And Joab went in to the king, and said: What hast thou
done? Behold Abner came to thee: Why didst thou send
him away, and he is gone and departed?
Knowest thou not Abner the son of Ner, that to this
end he came to thee, that he might deceive thee, and
to know thy going out, and thy coming in, and to know
all thou dost?
Then Joab going out from David, sent messengers after
Abner, and brought him back from the cistern of Sira,
David knowing nothing of it.
And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him
aside to the middle of the gate, to speak to him treacherously:
and he stabbed him there in the groin, and he died,
in revenge of the blood of Asael his brother.
And when David heard of it, after the thing was now
done, he said: I, and my kingdom are innocent before
the Lord for ever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
And may it come upon the head of Joab, and upon all
his father's house: and let there not fail from the
house of Joab one that hath an issue of seed, or that
is a leper, or that holdeth the distaff, or that falleth
by the sword, or that wanteth bread.
So Joab and Abisai his brother slew Abner, because he
had killed their brother Asael at Gabaon in the battle.
And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were
with him: Rend your garments, and gird yourselves with
sackcloths, and mourn before the funeral of Abner. And
king David himself followed the bier.
And when they had buried Abner in Hebron, king David
lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner:
and all the people also wept.
And the king mourning and lamenting over Abner, said:
Not as cowards are wont to die, hath Abner died.
Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet laden with fetters:
but as men fall before the children of iniquity, so
didst thou fall. And all the people repeating it wept
over him.
And when all the people came to take meat with David,
while it was yet broad day, David swore, saying: So
do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread or any
thing else before sunset.
And all the people heard, and they were pleased, and
all that the king did seemed good in the sight of all
the people.
And all the people, and all Israel understood that day
that it was not the king's doing, that Abner the son
of Ner was slain.
The king also said to his servants: Do you not know
that a prince and great man is slain this day in Israel?
But I as yet am tender, though anointed king. And these
men the sons of Sarvia are too hard for me: the Lord
reward him that doth evil according to his wickedness.
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