Abner

55Saul had watched David go out to fight the Philistine. He said to Abner, the leader of his army, "Abner, whose son is this boy?" Abner said, "As surely as you live, my king, I do not know."

And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.

Note"As surely as you live" was a strong way to promise. It meant "I am really telling you the truth."

56The king said, "Then find out whose son this young man is."

And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is.

NoteThe King James calls David a "stripling." That is an old word for a boy who is not grown up yet.

57David came back from killing the Philistine. He was still holding Goliath's head in his hand. Abner took him and brought him to Saul.

And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

58Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse, from Bethlehem."

And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.

5Then David went to the place where Saul was camped. He saw where Saul was lying down. Abner son of Ner was there too. Abner was the leader of Saul's army. Saul slept in the middle of the camp. His soldiers slept in a circle all around him.

And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.

NoteArmies slept in a big circle at night. The king slept in the middle, the safest spot of all.

6David spoke to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai. Abishai's mother was Zeruiah, and his brother was Joab. David asked, "Who will go down with me into Saul's camp?" Abishai said, "I will go with you."

Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.

NoteA Hittite was someone from another people who lived near Israel. Zeruiah was David's sister. So Abishai and Joab were David's nephews.

7So David and Abishai came to the camp at night. Saul was lying there fast asleep in the middle of the camp. His spear was stuck in the ground by his head. Abner and the soldiers were sleeping all around him.

So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.

NoteA spear is a long pole with a sharp point on the end. Saul's spear stuck in the ground showed where the king slept.

8Abishai said to David, "Today God has handed your enemy over to you. Let me push the spear through him into the ground. One try is all I will need."

Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.

9But David said, "No, do not kill him. God chose Saul to be king. Anyone who hurts him would be doing wrong."

And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?

NoteWhen God chose a king, oil was poured on his head. That is what the old words "the LORD's anointed" mean. Hurting such a man was seen as a very serious wrong.

10David went on, "As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD himself will strike Saul down. Or his time to die will come. Or he will go to battle and be killed there.

David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

Note"As surely as the LORD lives" was a way to make a strong promise. It means "I truly mean what I say."

11But I will never lift my hand against the man God chose as king. Just take the spear by his head and the water jug. Then let us go."

The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’s anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

NoteA water jug was a small clay pot for carrying drinking water. In that dry land, people took one everywhere they went.

12So David took the spear and the water jug from beside Saul's head. Then they left. Nobody saw them. Nobody knew. Nobody even woke up. They all stayed asleep, because God had put a deep sleep on them.

So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.

NoteDavid took the spear and the jug to show he had been there. He was close enough to hurt Saul, and he chose not to.

13Then David crossed over to the other side. He stood on top of a hill far away. A wide space lay between him and the camp.

Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:

NoteA shout carries a long way across an open valley. David could be heard, but he was too far away to be caught.

14David shouted to the soldiers and to Abner son of Ner. He called, "Abner, are you not going to answer me?" Abner shouted back, "Who are you, shouting at the king?"

And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?

15David said to Abner, "You are a brave man, are you not? Nobody in Israel is like you. So why did you not guard the king, your master? Someone came into the camp to kill him.

And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.

NoteA king's guards slept close by to keep him safe at night. Abner was the man in charge of guarding Saul.

16What you did was not good. As surely as the LORD lives, you all should die for this. You did not guard your master, the man God chose as king. Now look for the king's spear and the water jug that were by his head."

This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.

8Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner was the leader of Saul's army. He took Saul's son Ish-bosheth to a town called Mahanaim.

But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

NoteAbner was the leader of Saul's whole army. Ish-bosheth was one of Saul's sons. Mahanaim was a town far off, on the other side of the Jordan River.

9There he made Ish-bosheth king. He ruled over Gilead, the Ashurite people, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all the rest of Israel.

And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

NoteThese are names of lands and family groups in Israel. Israel was made of twelve family groups called tribes.

10Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he started to rule Israel. He ruled for two years. But the people of Judah followed David instead.

Ishbosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.

NoteNow there were two kings at the same time. Ish-bosheth ruled the north. David ruled Judah in the south.

11David was king in Hebron over Judah for seven years and six months.

And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

12One day Abner son of Ner marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. Ish-bosheth's men went with him.

And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

13Joab son of Zeruiah and David's men marched out too. The two groups met at the pool of Gibeon. They sat down on opposite sides of the water.

And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.

NoteJoab was David's nephew. His mother, Zeruiah, was David's sister. A pool was a big tank of water dug for a town to use.

14Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men get up and fight in front of us." Joab said, "Let them get up."

And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

NoteThe King James says "play" here. It does not mean a game. It means young men fighting while the others watched.

15So they were counted off. Twelve men came for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth. Twelve men came for David.

Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

16Each man grabbed the other man's head. Each one pushed his sword into the other man's side. They all fell down dead together. So that place in Gibeon got the name Helkath-hazzurim.

And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

NoteThe name Helkath-hazzurim means "field of sharp swords."

17There was a hard battle that day. Abner and the men of Israel lost to David's men.

And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

18The three sons of Zeruiah were there. They were Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel could run as fast as a wild deer.

And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

NoteThe King James calls Asahel "light of foot as a wild roe." A roe is a kind of deer. It can run very fast.

19Asahel chased after Abner. He did not turn left or right. He just kept after Abner.

And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

20Abner looked behind him and said, "Is that you, Asahel?" Asahel said, "Yes, it is."

Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.

21Abner said, "Turn to your right or your left. Go after one of the young men and take his weapons." But Asahel would not stop chasing him.

And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.

NoteAfter a fight, winners took the weapons of the men they beat. Abner was telling Asahel to go chase someone easier.

22Abner said again, "Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you down? Then how could I look your brother Joab in the face?"

And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?

NoteJoab was Asahel's older brother. Abner did not want Joab angry at him forever.

23But Asahel would not turn away. So Abner shoved the back end of his spear into Asahel's stomach. It came out his back. He fell and died right there. Every man who came to that spot stopped and stood still.

Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.

NoteA spear is a long stick with a sharp point on one end. Abner hit him with the blunt back end instead.

24But Joab and Abishai kept chasing Abner. The sun was going down when they reached the hill of Ammah. It is near Giah, on the road to the dry land of Gibeon.

Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

Note"Dry land" here means empty country with few plants and no towns.

25The men of Benjamin gathered around Abner. They formed one group. They stood together on top of a hill.

And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.

26Then Abner called out to Joab. He said, "Must we keep killing each other forever? Don't you know this will end in sadness? How long until you tell your men to stop chasing their own brothers?"

Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

NoteBoth armies were Israelites, one people. That is why Abner calls them brothers.

27Joab answered, "As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, my men would have kept chasing their brothers until morning."

And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.

Note"As God lives" was a strong promise. It meant "I am telling the truth."

28So Joab blew a horn. All the men stopped. They did not chase Israel anymore, and they did not fight anymore.

So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

NoteThe horn was made from a ram's horn. Blowing it was the signal for soldiers to stop.

29Abner and his men walked all that night through the flat land. They crossed the Jordan River. They kept going and came to Mahanaim.

And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.

NoteThe Jordan is the big river running through that land. The flat land is the low ground beside the river.

30Joab came back from chasing Abner. He gathered all his men together. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David's men were missing.

And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.

31But David's men had killed three hundred and sixty of Abner's men from Benjamin.

But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.

32They carried Asahel away and buried him in his father's grave in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men walked all night. They reached Hebron as the sun came up.

And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

NoteA grave then was often a small cave cut in rock. A whole family was buried in the same one. Bethlehem was the town David grew up in.

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

And 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.

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?"

And 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?

NoteA woman like Rizpah belonged to the king alone. So people thought a man who took the old king's wife wanted to be king himself. That is why Ishbosheth was upset.

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!"

Then 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?

NoteCalling someone a dog's head was a strong insult. Dogs then were not pets. They ran wild and ate garbage. Judah was the part of the land where David was king.

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."

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

NoteWhen you see LORD in big letters, it stands for God's own name. It is the special name God gave to his people.

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."

To 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.

NoteDan was the town farthest north in the land. Beersheba was the town farthest south. Naming both means the whole country, top to bottom.

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

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

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."

And 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.

NoteAn agreement like this was a very serious promise. People believed God was listening when they made one.

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.

And 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.

NoteMichal was Saul's daughter and David's first wife. Saul later took her back and gave her to another man.

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."

And 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.

NoteThe Philistines were enemies who fought Israel again and again. In those days a man gave a gift to the family when he married. Saul told David to bring proof that he had beaten a hundred Philistines instead. The cut skin was that proof.

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

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

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.

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

NoteBahurim was a small town along the road. Phaltiel had to stop there and go home alone.

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

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

NoteThe leaders here were older men that the towns trusted. People listened to what they decided.

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.'"

Now 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.

19Abner also spoke to the people of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron to tell David all that Israel and Benjamin had agreed to do.

And 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.

NoteIsrael was made of twelve big family groups called tribes. Benjamin was Saul's own tribe.

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

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

NoteEating a meal together showed that two people were now friends. It was like shaking hands on a promise.

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.

And 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.

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.

And, 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.

NoteArmies then took food, animals, and goods from their enemies. That was part of how soldiers were paid.

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."

When 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.

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!"

Then 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?

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

Thou 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.

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

And 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.

NoteThe well of Sirah was a water well beside the road. It was a short way outside Hebron.

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.

And 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.

NoteA town gate was a wide doorway where people met and talked. In those days, if a man was killed, his family was expected to pay the killer back. Joab was doing that for his brother Asahel.

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."

And 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:

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."

Let 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.

NotePeople then stayed away from anyone with a bad skin disease. So being sick that way meant living apart from friends and family.

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

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