The Koine Bible

And the war was for a long time between the house of Saul and between the house of David, and the house of David went on and grew strong, and the house of Saul went on and became weak.

And sons were born to David in Hebron, and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess.

and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the Carmelite, and the third, Absalom, son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur

and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith, and the fifth, Shephatiah of Abital

and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife; these were born to David in Hebron

And it happened, while there was war between the house of Saul and between the house of David, that Abner was holding the house of Saul.

And Saul had a concubine, Rizpah, daughter of Aiah. And Mephibosheth son of Saul said to Abner, Why is it that you went in to my father’s concubine?

And Abner was very angry because of the matter of Ishbosheth, and Abner said to him, Am I not a dog’s head? I have shown kindness today with the house of Saul your father and concerning brothers and acquaintances, and I did not desert to the house of David, and you seek against me for the injustice of a woman today.

Thus may God do to Abner and thus may he add to him, because as the Lord swore to David, that so I will do to him on this day.

to take away the kingdom from the house of Saul and to raise up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba

And Mephibosheth was no longer able to answer Abner a word, because of his fearing him

And Abennēr sent messengers to David to Thailam, where he was at once, saying, Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand is with you to turn back to you all the house of Israel.

And David said, I will surely make a covenant with you; however, one matter I am asking from you, saying, you shall not see my face unless you bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.

And David sent messengers to Mephibosheth, son of Saul, saying, Give me my wife Michal, 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 was going with her, weeping behind her, as far as Bahurim, and Abner said to him, Go, return; and he returned.

And Abner said to the elders of Israel, saying, Yesterday and the day before yesterday you were seeking David to reign over you.

And now do, because 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 Abner spoke in the ears of Benjamin, and Abner went to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that was pleasing in the eyes of Israel and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin.

And Abner came to David at Hebron, and with him twenty men; and David made a feast for Abner and for the men with him.

And Abner said to David, Let me rise up now and go, and I will gather to my lord the king all Israel, and I will make a covenant with you, and you will reign over all that your soul desires. And David sent away Abner, and he went in peace.

And behold, the servants of David and Joab were coming from the raid and were bringing much spoil with them, and Abner was not with David in Hebron, because he had sent him away, and he had gone away in peace.

And Joab and all his army were brought, and it was reported to Joab, saying, Abner 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, Why did you do this? Behold, Abner has come to you, and why have you sent him away, and he has gone in peace?

Do you not know the evil of Abennēr son of Ner, that he came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do?

And Joab returned from David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Seiram, and David did not know it.

And Abner returned to Hebron, and Joab led him aside from the side of the gate to speak with him, lying in wait, and struck him there on the loins, and he died in the blood of Asahel the brother of Joab.

And David heard after these things and said, I am guiltless, and my kingdom, from the Lord forever, from the blood of Abennēr son of Ner.

May they fall upon the head of Joab and upon all the house of his father, and may there not fail from the house of Joab one with a discharge, and a leper, and one handling a staff, and one falling by the sword, and one lacking bread.

And Joab and Abessa his brother watched Abennēr in return for what he had put Asael their brother to death at Gabaon in the war

And David said to Joab and to all the people with him, Tear your garments and gird yourselves with sackcloths, and lament before Abennēr. And King David was going behind the bier.

And they bury Abennēr in Hebron, and the king lifted up his voice and wept over his tomb, and all the people wept over Abennēr

And the king lamented over Abennēr and said, Should Abennēr die according to the death of Nabal?

Your hands were not bound, your feet were not in fetters; you fell before sons of injustice as Nabal fell. And all the people gathered to weep for him.

And all the people came to give David bread to eat while it was still day, and David swore, saying, Thus may God do to me and thus may he add, if the sun go down, I shall surely not taste bread or anything else.

And all the people knew it, and all 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 about from the king to put to death Abennēr son of Nēr

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

And that I am today a kinsman and appointed under the king, but these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are harder than I; may the Lord repay the one doing evil according to his evil.