2 Samuel 3

And the war lasted a long time between the house of Saul and the house of David; and the house of David went on and grew strong, and the house of Saul went on and grew weak.

And sons were born to David in Hebron; and his firstborn was Amnon, of Achinoom the Jezreelite;

and his second, Daluia, of Abigaia the Carmelite; and the third, Abessalom son of Maacha daughter of Tholmi king of Gesir;

and the fourth, Ornia son of Phengith; and the fifth, Sabatia, of Abital;

and the sixth, Ietheraam, of Aigla David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abenner was holding power over the house of Saul.

And Saul had a concubine, Respha daughter of Ial. And Memphibosthe son of Saul said to Abenner, Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?

And Abenner was exceedingly angry at the word of Memphibosthe, and Abenner said to him, Am I a dog's head? I have shown mercy today to the house of Saul your father, and to his brothers and his acquaintances, and I have not deserted to the house of David; and today you seek a charge against me concerning the wrong of a woman?

May God do so to Abenner and more also, for just as the Lord swore to David, so I will do for him in this day:

to take away the kingdom from the house of Saul and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Bersabee.

And Memphibosthe could not answer Abenner a word any more, because he feared him.

And Abenner sent messengers to David at Thailam where he was at that moment, saying, Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand is with you to bring all the house of Israel over to you.

And David said, Good, I will make a covenant with you; only one thing I ask of you, saying, You shall not see my face unless you bring Melchol daughter of Saul when you come to see my face.

And David sent messengers to Memphibosthe son of Saul, saying, Give me back my wife Melchol, whom I took for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

And Memphibosthe sent and took her from her husband, from Phaltiel son of Selles.

And her husband went with her, weeping behind her as far as Barakim. And Abenner said to him, Go, return. And he returned.

And Abenner spoke to the elders of Israel, saying, In time past you were seeking David to reign over you.

Now then act, for the Lord has spoken concerning David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines and out of the hand of all their enemies.

And Abenner spoke in the ears of Benjamin; and Abenner went to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good in the eyes of Israel and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin.

And Abenner came to David in Hebron, and with him twenty men; and David made a feast for Abenner and for the men who were with him.

And Abenner said to David, I will arise and go and gather all Israel to my lord the king, and I will make a covenant with you, and you shall reign over all that your soul desires. And David sent Abenner away, and he went in peace.

And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from the raid and brought much spoil with them; and Abenner was not with David in Hebron, because he had sent him away and he had gone in peace.

And Joab and all his army came, and it was reported to Joab, saying, Abenner son of Ner has come to David, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace.

And Joab went in to the king and said, What is this you have done? Behold, Abenner came to you; why then have you sent him away, and he has gone in peace?

Do you not know the wickedness of Abenner son of Ner, that he came to deceive you and to learn your going out and your coming in and to learn everything that you do?

And Joab went out from David and sent messengers after Abenner, and they brought him back from the well of Seiram; and David did not know it.

And Abenner returned to Hebron, and Joab turned him aside to the side of the gate to speak with him, lying in wait; and he struck him there in the loin, and he died, for the blood of Asael, Joab's brother.

And David heard of it afterwards and said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord forever of the blood of Abenner son of Ner.

Let it come down upon the head of Joab and upon all the house of his father; and let there never cease from the house of Joab one with a discharge, or a leper, or one holding a staff, or one falling by the sword, or one lacking bread.

But Joab and Abessa his brother kept close watch for Abenner, because he had put to death Asael their brother at Gabaon in the battle.

And David said to Joab and to all the people with him, Tear your garments and gird yourselves with sackcloth and beat your breasts before Abenner. And King David went behind the bier.

And they buried Abenner in Hebron, and the king lifted up his voice and wept at his grave, and all the people wept over Abenner.

And the king lamented over Abenner and said, Shall Abenner die according to the death of Nabal?

Your hands were not bound, your feet were not in fetters; he was not brought near as Nabal was. Before sons of iniquity you fell. And all the people gathered to weep over him.

And all the people came to give David a funeral meal with bread while it was still day; and David swore, saying, May God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything at all before the sun sets.

And all the people knew it, and everything that the king did before the people was pleasing in their sight.

And all the people and all Israel knew on that day that it had not come from the king to put Abenner son of Ner to death.

And the king said to his servants, Do you not know that a great leader has fallen this day in Israel?

And I am today a kinsman and one appointed by a king, but these men, the sons of Saruia, are harder than I. May the Lord repay the one who does evil according to his wickedness.