2 Samuel

Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

1The war between Saul's family and David's family lasted a long time. David kept growing stronger. Saul's family kept growing weaker.

2And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

2Sons were born to David in the town of Hebron. His first son was Amnon. His mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel.

3And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

3His second son was Chileab. His mother was Abigail, who had been the wife of Nabal from Carmel. His third son was Absalom. His mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, the king of Geshur.

4And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

4His fourth son was Adonijah, and his mother was Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah, and his mother was Abital.

5And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

5His sixth son was Ithream, and his mother was Eglah, David's wife. All these sons were born to David in Hebron.

6And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.

6The two families kept fighting. During that time Abner, the leader of Saul's army, grew more and more powerful among Saul's people.

7And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father’s concubine?

7Saul had a woman named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. She was one of his wives, but with a lower place in the family. Ishbosheth, Saul's son, asked Abner, "Why did you sleep with my father's wife?"

8Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog’s head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?

8Abner became very angry at what Ishbosheth said. He answered, "Am I some worthless dog working for Judah? All this time I have stayed loyal to your father Saul's family, his brothers, and his friends. I have not handed you over to David. And now you blame me about this woman!"

Note"Am I a dog's head" was a very strong insult in that time. Abner is saying, "Do you think I am worthless?"

9So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

9Abner said, "May God punish me very badly if I do not help David now. The LORD made a promise to David, and I will help make it come true."

10To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.

10"God promised to take the kingdom away from Saul's family. He promised to make David king over Israel and Judah, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south."

11And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

11Ishbosheth could not say one word back to Abner. He was afraid of him.

12And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.

12Then Abner sent messengers to David with this message: "Who should own this land? Make an agreement with me. I will help you. I will bring all Israel over to your side."

13And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

13David answered, "Good. I will make an agreement with you. But I ask one thing first. Do not come to see me unless you bring Michal, Saul's daughter, with you." Michal had been David's wife.

14And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

14David also sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul's son. He said, "Give me back my wife Michal. I paid for her with skin cut from a hundred dead Philistines."

NoteLong before this, King Saul told David to bring proof that he had killed a hundred Philistine soldiers. That was the price for marrying Saul's daughter Michal. David is reminding them that he paid it.

15And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.

15So Ishbosheth sent men and took Michal away from her husband. Her husband was Phaltiel, the son of Laish.

16And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

16Phaltiel walked behind her, crying all the way to the town of Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go back home." So he went back.

17And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:

17Abner talked with the leaders of Israel. He said, "For a long time now you have wanted David to be your king."

18Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

18"So do it now. The LORD said about David, 'I will use my servant David to save my people Israel. I will save them from the Philistines and from all their enemies.'"

19And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.

19Abner also spoke to the people of Benjamin, Saul's own family group. Then he went to Hebron to tell David all that Israel and Benjamin had agreed to do.

20So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.

20So Abner came to David at Hebron with twenty men. David made a big meal for Abner and the men with him.

21And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

21Abner said to David, "Let me go now. I will gather all Israel to you, my king. They will make an agreement with you. Then you will rule over all you wish." David sent Abner away, and Abner left in peace.

22And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.

22Just then Joab and David's soldiers came back from a raid. Joab was the leader of David's army. They brought back many things they had taken. Abner was not with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away in peace.

23When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

23When Joab and all his soldiers arrived, someone told him the news. "Abner son of Ner came to the king. The king sent him away, and he left in peace."

24Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?

24So Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Abner came to you. Why did you send him away? Now he has gotten clean away!"

25Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

25"You know Abner son of Ner. He came to trick you. He came to learn where you go and everything you do."

26And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.

26Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought Abner back from the well of Sirah. David did not know about it.

27And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

27When Abner came back to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gateway. He acted as if he wanted to talk quietly. There Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and Abner died. Joab did it to pay Abner back for killing his brother Asahel.

28And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

28Later David heard what had happened. He said, "I did not kill Abner son of Ner. The LORD knows my kingdom and I are not guilty of his death, now or ever."

29Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

29"Let the blame fall on Joab and on all his father's family. May Joab's family always have someone who is sick and does not get well, or has a bad skin disease. May some need a stick to walk. May some die by the sword. May some go hungry."

30So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

30Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner. They did it because Abner had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.

31And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.

31David said to Joab and to all the people with him, "Tear your clothes. Put on rough, scratchy cloth. Cry for Abner." King David himself walked behind the bed that carried Abner's body.

32And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

32They buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried out loud at Abner's grave. All the people cried too.

33And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?

33The king sang a sad song for Abner. He sang, "Should Abner have died the way a foolish man dies?"

34Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.

34"Your hands were not tied. Your feet were not put in chains. You fell the way a man falls to wicked men." And all the people cried for Abner again.

35And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.

35It was still daytime. The people came and begged David to eat something. But David made a promise. He said, "May God punish me if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down."

NoteThe old King James wording says "meat" here. In 1611 that word meant food of any kind, not just meat from animals.

36And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

36All the people saw what David did, and it made them glad. In fact, everything the king did made the people glad.

37For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

37That day all the soldiers and all Israel understood one thing clearly. The king had not asked anyone to kill Abner son of Ner.

38And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

38The king said to his servants, "Do you not see what happened today? A leader and a great man has died in Israel."

39And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

39"Today I feel weak, even though I have been chosen as king. These men, Joab and Abishai, the sons of Zeruiah, are too strong for me. May the LORD pay back the man who does evil for the evil he does."