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2 Samuel 3 :: New English Translation (NET)

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Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:1 - However, the war was prolonged between the house of Saul and the house of David. David was becoming steadily stronger, while the house of Saul was becoming increasingly weaker.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:2 - Now sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born to Ahinoam the Jezreelite.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:3 - His second son was Kileab, born to Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. His third son was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:4 - His fourth son was Adonijah, the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah, the son of Abitail.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:5 - His sixth son was Ithream, born to David's wife Eglah. These sons were all born to David in Hebron.

Abner Joins David

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:6 - As the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was becoming more influential in the house of Saul.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:7 - Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth said to Abner, "Why did you have sexual relations with my father's concubine?"
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:8 - These words of Ish-bosheth really angered Abner and he said, "Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah? This very day I am demonstrating loyalty to the house of Saul your father and to his relatives and his friends! I have not betrayed you into the hand of David. Yet you have accused me of sinning with this woman today!
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:9 - God will severely judge Abner if I do not do for David exactly what the LORD has promised him,
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:10 - namely, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah all the way from Dan to Beer Sheba!"
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:11 - Ish-bosheth was unable to answer Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:12 - Then Abner sent messengers to David saying, "To whom does the land belong? Make an agreement with me, and I will do whatever I can to cause all Israel to turn to you."
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:13 - So David said, "Good! I will make an agreement with you. I ask only one thing from you. You will not see my face unless you bring Saul's daughter Michal when you come to visit me."
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:14 - David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth son of Saul with this demand: "Give me my wife Michal whom I acquired for a hundred Philistine foreskins."
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:15 - So Ish-bosheth took her from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:16 - Her husband went along behind her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Finally Abner said to him, "Go back!" So he returned home.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:17 - Abner advised the elders of Israel, "Previously you were wanting David to be your king.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:18 - Act now! For the LORD has said to David, 'By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the Philistines and from all their enemies.'"
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:19 - Then Abner spoke privately with the Benjaminites. Abner also went to Hebron to inform David privately of all that Israel and the entire house of Benjamin had agreed to.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:20 - When Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a banquet for Abner and the men who were with him.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:21 - Abner said to David, "Let me leave so that I may go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make an agreement with you. Then you will rule over all that you desire." So David sent Abner away, and he left in peace.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:22 - Now David's soldiers and Joab were coming back from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for David had sent him away and he had left in peace.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:23 - When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, Joab was told: "Abner the son of Ner came to the king; he sent him away, and he left in peace!"
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:24 - So Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Abner has come to you! Why would you send him away? Now he's gone on his way!
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:25 - You know Abner the son of Ner! Surely he came here to spy on you and to determine when you leave and when you return and to discover everything that you are doing!"

Joab Murders Abner

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:26 - Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah. (But David was not aware of it.)
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:27 - When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gate as if to speak privately with him. Joab then stabbed him in the abdomen and killed him, avenging the shed blood of his brother Asahel.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:28 - When David later heard about this, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the LORD of the shed blood of Abner son of Ner!
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:29 - May his blood whirl over the head of Joab and the entire house of his father! May the males of Joab's house never cease to have someone with a running sore or a skin disease or one who works at the spindle or one who falls by the sword or one who lacks food!"
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:30 - So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in Gibeon during the battle.

David Mourns Abner

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:31 - David instructed Joab and all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes! Put on sackcloth! Lament before Abner!" Now King David followed behind the funeral bier.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:32 - So they buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly over Abner's grave and all the people wept too.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:33 - The king chanted the following lament for Abner: "Should Abner have died like a fool?
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:34 - Your hands were not bound, and your feet were not put into irons. You fell the way one falls before criminals." All the people wept over him again.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:35 - Then all the people came and encouraged David to eat food while it was still day. But David took an oath saying, "God will punish me severely if I taste bread or anything whatsoever before the sun sets!"
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:36 - All the people noticed this and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased all the people.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:37 - All the people and all Israel realized on that day that the killing of Abner son of Ner was not done at the king's instigation.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:38 - Then the king said to his servants, "Do you not realize that a great leader has fallen this day in Israel?
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 3:39 - Today I am weak, even though I am anointed as king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too much for me to bear! May the LORD punish appropriately the one who has done this evil thing!"
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Pericope

Pericope taken from the NASB95 and has been graciously provided by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995
by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif.
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