And the war was strong between the House of Saul and the House of David. And the House of David grew stronger, while the House of Saul became weaker.

And sons were born to David at Hebron: the first born was Amnon, of Ahinoam who was from Jezreel;

and his second Chileab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal who was from Carmel; and the third Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

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

and the sixth Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David at Hebron.

While there was war between the House of Saul and the House of David, Abner was making himself strong in the House of Saul.

Now Saul had had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And he said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”

Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish bosheth, and said, “Am I not the head? Consequently I became a common man for the rest of the House of Judah. Today I keep showing goodness to the House of Saul your father, with his brothers and with his friends and I did not surrender you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with guilt concerning a woman.

The LORD do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the LORD has sworn to him,

to transfer the kingdom from the House of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beer sheba.”

And Ish bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

And Abner sent messengers to David from his place, saying, “I am swearing by the One who made the earth, saying, Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you.”

And he said, “Good. I will make a covenant with you, but one thing I require of you, that is to say, you shall not see my face, unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to show yourself before me.

Then David sent messengers to Ish bosheth Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”

And Ish bosheth sent and led her away from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish.

But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Almath. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned.

And the word of Abner was with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time past you have been seeking David to be king over you.

Now then, act! For the LORD has said to David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’”

Abner also spoke before those of the House of Benjamin. And then Abner went to speak before David at Hebron all that was deemed right in the sight of Israel and in the sight of all those of the House of Benjamin.

When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.

And Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires.” So David sent Abner and he went in peace.

Just then the servants of David and Joab arrived from the camp, bringing a great booty with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away and he had gone in peace.

When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told to Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him and he has gone in peace.”

Then Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him, so that he just walked away?

You know Abner the son of Ner, that he only came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

When Joab came out from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it.

And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him down in the place of his loins, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

When David heard of it afterward, he said, “I and my kingdom are for ever innocent before the LORD for the blood of Abner the son of Ner.

May it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father’s house. And may the house of Joab never be without one who is flowing, or one with a skin disease, or one who seizes wages, or one who is killed by the sword, or one who is lacking food.

So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.

Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Rend your clothes, and gird on sackcloth, and mourn in front of Abner.” And King David was going after the bier.

They buried Abner at Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.

And the king lamented for Abner and said, “Should Abner die as the wicked die?

Your hands were not bound, your feet not drawn near to bronze fetters. As one falls before the wicked men, you have fallen.” And all the people wept again over him.

Then all the people came to make David eat bread, while the day lasted, but David swore, saying, “The LORD do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down.”

And all the people took notice of it, and it was pleasing in their sight, as everything that the king did was good in the sight of all the people.

So all the people and all Israel knew that day that it had not been in the king’s plan to kill Abner the son of Ner.

And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a commander and a ruler has fallen today in Israel?

And I am this day a common man, though elevated to be king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too hard for me. May the LORD requite the evildoers according to his wickedness.