Abner Joins David

2 Samuel 3

¹ There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.

² Sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel; ³ his second, Chileab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom son of Maacah, daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; ⁴ the fourth, Adonijah son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah son of Abital; ⁵ and the sixth, Ithream, of David's wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.

⁶ While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. ⁷ Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ishbaal ₁ said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?" ⁸ The words of Ishbaal ₂ made Abner very angry; he said, "Am I a dog's head for Judah? Today I keep showing loyalty to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me now with a crime concerning this woman. ⁹ So may God do to Abner and so may he add to it! For just what the Lord has sworn to David, that will I accomplish for him, ¹⁰ to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beer-sheba." ¹¹ And Ishbaal ₃ could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

¹² Abner sent messengers to David at Hebron, ₄ saying, "To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and I will give you my support to bring all Israel over to you." ¹³ He said, "Good; I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: you shall never appear in my presence unless you bring Saul's daughter Michal when you come to see me." ¹⁴ Then David sent messengers to Saul's son Ishbaal, ₅ saying, "Give me my wife Michal, to whom I became engaged at the price of one hundred foreskins of the Philistines." ¹⁵ Ishbaal ₆ sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. ¹⁶ But her husband went with her, weeping as he walked behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go back home!" So he went back.

¹⁷ Abner sent word to the elders of Israel, saying, "For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you. ¹⁸ Now then bring it about; for the Lord has promised David: Through my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from all their enemies." ¹⁹ Abner also spoke directly to the Benjaminites; then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin were ready to do.

²⁰ When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. ²¹ Abner said to David, "Let me go and rally all Israel to my lord the king, in order that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires." So David dismissed Abner, and he went away in peace.

²² Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for David ₇ had dismissed him, and he had gone away in peace. ²³ When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, "Abner son of Ner came to the king, and he has dismissed him, and he has gone away in peace." ²⁴ Then Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Abner came to you; why did you dismiss him, so that he got away? ²⁵ You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you, and to learn your comings and goings and to learn all that you are doing."