There was a long war between the house of Shaul and the house of Dovid. Dovid was [continuosly] getting stronger, and the house of Shaul was [continuously] getting weaker.

Sons were born to Dovid in Chevron, his first born was Amnon by Achinoam the Yiszraelite.

His second [son] was Kilov by Avigayil, the wife of Novol the Carmelite. The third [son] was Avsholom, the son of Maachoh, the daughter of Talmai, the king of Geshur.

The fourth [son] was Adoniyoh, the son of Chagis. The fifth [son] was Shephatiyoh, the son of Avital.

The sixth [son] was Yisrom by Egloh, the wife of Dovid. These [sons] were born to Dovid in Chevron.

While the war was [going on] between the house of Shaul and the house of Dovid, Avner was strengthening the house of Shaul.

Shaul had a concubine and her name was Rizpah, the daughter of Ayoh [Ish boshes] said to Avner, "Why have you visited [conjugally] my father's concubine?"

Avner became very angry on account of] the words of Ish Boshes and said, "Am I the chief dog [watcher] for [the kingdom of] Yehuda? From this day on should I [continue to] be kind to the house of Shaul, your father, to his brothers and to his friends? And I have not delivered you into the hand of Dovid. [But] you [still] remember the sin [involving] the woman, [using it] against me today."

"This is what Elokim should do to Avner and so may He do further for as Adonoy swore to Dovid so I shall do for him."

"To remove the monarchy from the house of Shaul and to establish the throne of Dovid over Yisroel and over Yehuda from Don to B'er Sheva"

[Ish Boshes] couldn't answer anything to Avner because of his fear of him.

Avner sent messengers to Dovid in his behalf, saying, by He Who [possesses] the land [and] saying [further], "Enact a convenant with me and my hand will be with you to bring all of Yisroel around to you."

He said [in response] "Good, I will enact a convenant with you, but just one thing I ask of you saying, do not see my face unless you first bring Michal, the daughter of Shaul when you come to see my face."

And Dovid sent messengers to Ish Boshes, the son of Shaul saying, "Give me my wife Michal that I betrothed to me with the one hundred foreskins of the Pelishtim

And Ish Boshes sent [messengers] and took her from [her] husband from Paltiel, the son of Loyish.

Her husband went with her following and crying after her until Bachurim. Avner said to him, "Go return." and he returned.

The word of Avner was [sent] to the elders of Yisroel, saying "Yesterday and also the day before yesterday, you requested that Dovid be king over you."

"And now, do it because Adonoy said about Dovid, 'through the hand of Dovid My servant I will save My people Yisroel from the hand of the Pelishtim and the hand of all their enemies.'"

Avner also spoke to [the people] of Binyomin. Avner also went to speak to Dovid in Chevron all that seemed good in the eyes of Yisroel and in the eyes of all of the house of Binyomin [that Dovid should ascend the throne].

Avner came to Dovid in Chevron, and with him were twenty men. Dovid made for Avner and the men with him, a feast.

Avner said to Dovid, "I'll get up and go and I will gather for my master, the king, all of Yisroel. They will enact a convenant with you and you will reign over all that you desire." Dovid sent Avner [to do this] and he went in peace.

And it was that the servants of Dovid and Yoav came back from an attack and brought with them a large booty. Avner was not with Dovid in Chevron because [Dovid] had sent him off and he had gone in peace.

Yoav and all of the army with him came and Yoav was told, "Avner, the son of Ner came to the king and [the king] sent him off, and he went in peace."

Yoav came to the king and said, "What did you do? Here Avner came to you, why did you send him off and he went?"

"You know Avner, the son of Ner, he came to seduce you and to know about your goings and comings and to know about everything you do."

Yoav went out from [before] Dovid. [He then] sent messengers after Avner and they returned him from Bor HaSiroh. Dovid was unaware [of this].

Avner returned to Chevron and Yoav steered him to go within the gate to talk to him, deceptively, [Yoav] hit him there into the fifth rib and [Avner] died on account of the blood of Asoel, [Yoav's] brother.

And afterwards, when Dovid heard [about this] he said, I and my kingdom are innocent, from [before] Adonoy forever, from the blood of Avner, the son of Ner.

[The guilt] should fall on the head of Yoav and on his father's entire house. There should never cease from the house of Yoav, [the afflictions of] a discharging man, a leper, [a lame person] who leans on a cane, [a person] felled by the sword and [a person] lacking bread.

Yoav and his brother Avishai killed Avner because he killed their brother Asoel in Givon, in battle.

Dovid said to Yoav and to all the people that were with him, "Rent your clothes, tie on sackcloth and eulogize before Avner," and King Dovid himself followed the coffin.

They buried Avner in Chevron, and the king lifted up his voice and wept over Avner's grave and all the people wept.

The king lamented over Avner and said, "Should Avner have died the death of the wicked?

Your hands were not bound, your feet were not put into bronze chains. Like those who fell before treacherous men you have fallen." All the people continued to cry over him.

All the people came to offer Dovid [the mourner's] bread while it was still daytime. Dovid swore saying, "Such should Elokim do to me and even more so if, before sunset, I should taste bread or anything else."

All the people recognized [that Dovid wasn't involved] and [this] was good in their eyes. Everything the king did was good in the eyes of all the people.

All of the people and all Yisroel knew on that day that it was not [an order] from the king to kill Avner, the son of Ner.

And the king said to his servants You know that an officer and a great man fell on this day in Yisroel.

I am today weak [as a commoner] and only just annointed king and these men, the sons of Tseruyoh are tougher then me. Adonoy will repay the evildoer according to his evil deed.