Good News Translation

David Spares Saul’s Life Again

1 Some men from Ziph came to Saul at Gibeah and told him that David was hiding on Mount Hachilah at the edge of the Judean wilderness.

2 Saul went at once with three thousand of the best soldiers in Israel to the wilderness of Ziph to look for David,

3 and camped by the road on Mount Hachilah. David was still in the wilderness, and when he learned that Saul had come to look for him,

4 he sent spies and found out that Saul was indeed there.

5 He went at once and located the exact place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, slept. Saul slept inside the camp, and his men camped around him.

6 Then David asked Ahimelech the Hittite, and Abishai the brother of Joab (their mother was Zeruiah), “Which of you two will go to Saul’s camp with me?”

“I will,” Abishai answered.

7 So that night David and Abishai entered Saul’s camp and found Saul sleeping in the center of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the troops were sleeping around him.

8 Abishai said to David, “God has put your enemy in your power tonight. Now let me plunge his own spear through him and pin him to the ground with just one blow—I won’t have to strike twice!”

9 But David said, “You must not harm him! TheLordwill certainly punish whoever harms his chosen king.

10 By the livingLord,” David continued, “I know that theLordhimself will kill Saul, either when his time comes to die a natural death or when he dies in battle.

11 TheLordforbid that I should try to harm the one whom theLordhas made king! Let’s take his spear and his water jar, and go.”

12 So David took the spear and the water jar from right beside Saul’s head, and he and Abishai left. No one saw it or knew what had happened or even woke up—they were all sound asleep, because theLordhad sent a heavy sleep on them all.

13 Then David crossed over to the other side of the valley to the top of the hill, a safe distance away,

14 and shouted to Saul’s troops and to Abner, “Abner! Can you hear me?”

“Who is that shouting and waking up the king?” Abner asked.

15 David answered, “Abner, aren’t you the greatest man in Israel? So why aren’t you protecting your master, the king? Just now someone entered the camp to kill your master.

16 You failed in your duty, Abner! I swear by the livingLordthat all of you deserve to die, because you have not protected your master, whom theLordmade king. Look! Where is the king’s spear? Where is the water jar that was right by his head?”

17 Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “David, is that you, my son?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” David answered.

18 And he added, “Why, sir, are you still pursuing me, your servant? What have I done? What crime have I committed?

19 Your Majesty, listen to what I have to say. If it is theLordwho has turned you against me, an offering to him will make him change his mind; but if some people have done it, may theLord’s curse fall on them. For they have driven me out from theLord’s land to a country where I can only worship foreign gods.

20 Don’t let me be killed on foreign soil, away from theLord. Why should the king of Israel come to kill a flea like me? Why should he hunt me down like a wild bird?”

21 Saul answered, “I have done wrong. Come back, David, my son! I will never harm you again, because you have spared my life tonight. I have been a fool! I have done a terrible thing!”

22 David replied, “Here is your spear, Your Majesty. Let one of your men come over and get it.

23 TheLordrewards those who are faithful and righteous. Today he put you in my power, but I did not harm you, whom theLordmade king.

24 Just as I have spared your life today, may theLorddo the same to me and free me from all troubles!”

25 Saul said to David, “God bless you, my son! You will succeed in everything you do!”

So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/1SA/26-64bfe6145c47a93ede65057c7b70f476.mp3?version_id=68—

David among the Philistines

1 David said to himself, “One of these days Saul will kill me. The best thing for me to do is to escape to Philistia. Then Saul will give up looking for me in Israel, and I will be safe.”

2 So David and his six hundred men went over at once to Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath.

3 David and his men settled there in Gath with their families. David had his two wives with him, Ahinoam from Jezreel, and Abigail, Nabal’s widow, from Carmel.

4 When Saul heard that David had fled to Gath, he gave up trying to find him.

5 David said to Achish, “If you are my friend, let me have a small town to live in. There is no need, sir, for me to live with you in the capital city.”

6 So Achish gave him the town of Ziklag, and for this reason Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since.

7 David lived in Philistia for sixteen months.

8 During that time David and his men would attack the people of Geshur, Girzi, and Amalek, who had been living in the region a very long time. He would raid their land as far as Shur, all the way down to Egypt,

9 killing all the men and women and taking the sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and even the clothes. Then he would come back to Achish,

10 who would ask him, “Where did you go on a raid this time?” and David would tell him that he had gone to the southern part of Judah or to the territory of the clan of Jerahmeel or to the territory where the Kenites lived.

11 David would kill everyone, men and women, so that no one could go back to Gath and report what he and his men had really done. This is what David did the whole time he lived in Philistia.

12 But Achish trusted David and said to himself, “He is hated so much by his own people the Israelites that he will have to serve me all his life.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/1SA/27-8a22ad24a53133cd2b42be363c8c5ba6.mp3?version_id=68—

1 Some time later the Philistines gathered their troops to fight Israel, and Achish said to David, “Of course you understand that you and your men are to fight on my side.”

2 “Of course,” David answered. “I am your servant, and you will see for yourself what I can do.”

Achish said, “Good! I will make you my permanent bodyguard.”

Saul Consults a Medium

3 Now Samuel had died, and all the Israelites had mourned for him and had buried him in his hometown of Ramah. Saul had forced all the fortunetellers and mediums to leave Israel.

4 The Philistine troops assembled and camped near the town of Shunem; Saul gathered the Israelites and camped at Mount Gilboa.

5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was terrified,

6 and so he asked theLordwhat to do. But theLorddid not answer him at all, either by dreams or by the use of Urim and Thummim or by prophets.

7 Then Saul ordered his officials, “Find me a woman who is a medium, and I will go and consult her.”

“There is one in Endor,” they answered.

8 So Saul disguised himself; he put on different clothes, and after dark he went with two of his men to see the woman. “Consult the spirits for me and tell me what is going to happen,” he said to her. “Call up the spirit of the man I name.”

9 The woman answered, “Surely you know what King Saul has done, how he forced the fortunetellers and mediums to leave Israel.Why, then, are you trying to trap me and get me killed?”

10 Then Saul made a sacred vow. “By the livingLordI promise that you will not be punished for doing this,” he told her.

11 “Whom shall I call up for you?” the woman asked.

“Samuel,” he answered.

12 When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed and said to Saul, “Why have you tricked me? You are King Saul!”

13 “Don’t be afraid!” the king said to her. “What do you see?”

“I see a spirit coming up from the earth,” she answered.

14 “What does it look like?” he asked.

“It’s an old man coming up,” she answered. “He is wearing a cloak.”

Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed to the ground in respect.

15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me? Why did you make me come back?”

Saul answered, “I am in great trouble! The Philistines are at war with me, and God has abandoned me. He doesn’t answer me any more, either by prophets or by dreams. And so I have called you, for you to tell me what I must do.”

16 Samuel said, “Why do you call me when theLordhas abandoned you and become your enemy?

17 TheLordhas done to you what he told you through me: he has taken the kingdom away from you and given it to David instead.

18 You disobeyed theLord’s command and did not completely destroy the Amalekites and all they had. That is why theLordis doing this to you now.

19 He will give you and Israel over to the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will join me, and theLordwill also give the army of Israel over to the Philistines.”

20 At once Saul fell down and lay stretched out on the ground, terrified by what Samuel had said. He was weak, because he had not eaten anything all day and all night.

21 The woman went over to him and saw that he was terrified, so she said to him, “Please, sir, I risked my life by doing what you asked.

22 Now please do what I ask. Let me fix you some food. You must eat so that you will be strong enough to travel.”

23 Saul refused and said he would not eat anything. But his officers also urged him to eat. He finally gave in, got up from the ground, and sat on the bed.

24 The woman quickly killed a calf which she had been fattening. Then she took some flour, prepared it, and baked some bread without yeast.

25 She set the food before Saul and his officers, and they ate it. And they left that same night.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/1SA/28-335c3b44f50fd843932983bf0766b64a.mp3?version_id=68—

David Is Rejected by the Philistines

1 The Philistines brought all their troops together at Aphek, while the Israelites camped at the spring in Jezreel Valley.

2 The five Philistine kings marched out with their units of a hundred and of a thousand men; David and his men marched in the rear with King Achish.

3 The Philistine commanders saw them and asked, “What are these Hebrews doing here?”

Achish answered, “This is David, an official of King Saul of Israel. He has been with me for quite some time now. He has done nothing I can find fault with since the day he came over to me.”

4 But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said to him, “Send that fellow back to the town you gave him. Don’t let him go into battle with us; he might turn against us during the fighting. What better way is there for him to win back his master’s favor than by the death of our men?

5 After all, this is David, the one about whom the women sang, as they danced, ‘Saul has killed thousands, but David has killed tens of thousands.’”

6 Achish called David and said to him, “I swear by the living God of Israel that you have been loyal to me; and I would be pleased to have you go with me and fight in this battle. I have not found any fault in you from the day you came over to me. But the other kings don’t approve of you.

7 So go back home in peace, and don’t do anything that would displease them.”

8 David answered, “What have I done wrong, sir? If, as you say, you haven’t found any fault in me since the day I started serving you, why shouldn’t I go with you, my master and king, and fight your enemies?”

9 “I agree,” Achish replied. “I consider you as loyal as an angel of God. But the other kings have said that you can’t go with us into battle.

10 So then, David, tomorrow morning all of you who left Saul and came over to me will have to get up early and leave as soon as it’s light.”

11 So David and his men started out early the following morning to go back to Philistia, and the Philistines went on to Jezreel.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/1SA/29-f3dac6605cf04a04322dea7bf3f1308f.mp3?version_id=68—

The War against the Amalekites

1 Two days later David and his men arrived back at Ziklag. The Amalekites had raided southern Judah and attacked Ziklag. They had burned down the town

2 and captured all the women; they had not killed anyone, but had taken everyone with them when they left.

3 When David and his men arrived, they found that the town had been burned down and that their wives, sons, and daughters had been carried away.

4 David and his men started crying and did not stop until they were completely exhausted.

5 Even David’s two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, had been taken away.

6 David was now in great trouble, because his men were all very bitter about losing their children, and they were threatening to stone him; but theLordhis God gave him courage.

7 David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod,” and Abiathar brought it to him.

8 David asked theLord, “Shall I go after those raiders? And will I catch them?”

He answered, “Go after them; you will catch them and rescue the captives.”

9 So David and his six hundred men started out, and when they arrived at Besor Brook, some of them stayed there.

10 David continued on his way with four hundred men; the other two hundred men were too tired to cross the brook and so stayed behind.

11 The men with David found a young Egyptian out in the country and brought him to David. They gave him some food and water,

12 some dried figs, and two bunches of raisins. After he had eaten, his strength returned; he had not had anything to eat or drink for three full days.

13 David asked him, “Who is your master, and where are you from?”

“I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite,” he answered. “My master left me behind three days ago because I got sick.

14 We had raided the territory of the Cherethites in the southern part of Judah and the territory of the clan of Caleb, and we burned down Ziklag.”

15 “Will you lead me to those raiders?” David asked him.

He answered, “I will if you promise me in God’s name that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master.”

16 And he led David to them.

The raiders were scattered all over the place, eating, drinking, and celebrating because of the enormous amount of loot they had captured from Philistia and Judah.

17 At dawn the next day David attacked them and fought until evening. Except for four hundred young men who mounted camels and got away, none of them escaped.

18 David rescued everyone and everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives;

19 nothing at all was missing. David got back all his men’s sons and daughters, and all the loot the Amalekites had taken.

20 He also recovered all the flocks and herds; his men drove all the livestock in front of themand said, “This belongs to David!”

21 Then David went back to the two hundred men who had been too weak to go with him and had stayed behind at Besor Brook. They came forward to meet David and his men, and David went up to them and greeted them warmly.

22 But some mean and worthless men who had gone with David said, “They didn’t go with us, and so we won’t give them any of the loot. They can take their wives and children and go away.”

23 But David answered, “My brothers, you can’t do this with what theLordhas given us! He kept us safe and gave us victory over the raiders.

24 No one can agree with what you say! All must share alike: whoever stays behind with the supplies gets the same share as the one who goes into battle.”

25 David made this a rule, and it has been followed in Israel ever since.

26 When David returned to Ziklag, he sent part of the loot to his friends, the leaders of Judah, with the message, “Here is a present for you from the loot we took from theLord’s enemies.”

27 He sent it to the people in Bethel, to the people in Ramah in the southern part of Judah, and to the people in the towns of Jattir,

28 Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa,

29 and Racal; to the clan of Jerahmeel, to the Kenites,

30 and to the people in the towns of Hormah, Borashan, Athach,

31 and Hebron. He sent it to all the places where he and his men had roamed.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/1SA/30-0a8fd373c2f8d0dd88c58b06a16dcb64.mp3?version_id=68—

The Death of Saul and His Sons

1 The Philistines fought a battle against the Israelites on Mount Gilboa. Many Israelites were killed there, and the rest of them, including King Saul and his sons, fled.

2 But the Philistines caught up with them and killed three of Saul’s sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.

3 The fighting was heavy around Saul, and he himself was hit by enemy arrows and badly wounded.

4 He said to the young man carrying his weapons, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that these godless Philistines won’t gloat over me and kill me.” But the young man was too terrified to do it. So Saul took his own sword and threw himself on it.

5 The young man saw that Saul was dead, so he too threw himself on his own sword and died with Saul.

6 And that is how Saul, his three sons, and the young man died; all of Saul’s men died that day.

7 When the Israelites on the other side of Jezreel Valley and east of the Jordan River heard that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons had been killed, they abandoned their towns and fled. Then the Philistines came and occupied the towns.

8 The day after the battle the Philistines went to plunder the corpses, and they found the bodies of Saul and his three sons lying on Mount Gilboa.

9 They cut off Saul’s head, stripped off his armor, and sent messengers with them throughout Philistia to tell the good news to their idols and to their people.

10 Then they put his weapons in the temple of the goddess Astarte, and they nailed his body to the wall of the city of Beth Shan.

11 When the people of Jabesh in Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,

12 the bravest men started out and marched all night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall, brought them back to Jabesh, and burned them there.

13 Then they took the bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in town, and fasted for seven days.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/1SA/31-5bee4c06b60865dcbea3637b2d47f478.mp3?version_id=68—

Introduction

The Second Book of Samuel

the sequel to

First Samuel

is the history of David’s reign as king, first over Judah in the south (chapters 1–4) and then over the whole nation, including Israel in the north (chapters 5–24). It is a vivid account of how David, in order to extend his kingdom and consolidate his position, had to struggle with enemies within the nation as well as with foreign powers. David is shown to be a man of deep faith and devotion to God, and one who was able to win the loyalty of his people. Yet he is also shown as being sometimes ruthless and willing to commit terrible sins to serve his own desires and ambitions. But when he is confronted with his sins by the Lord’s prophet Nathan, he confesses them and accepts the punishment that God sends.

The life and achievements of David impressed the people of Israel so much that in later times of national distress, when they longed for another king, it was for one who would be “a son of David,” that is, a descendant of David who would be like him.

Outline of Contents

David’s reign over Judah (1.1—4.12)

David’s reign over all Israel (5.1—24.25)

a. The early years (5.1—10.19)

b. David and Bathsheba (11.1—12.25)

c. Troubles and difficulties (12.26—20.26)

d. The later years (21.1—24.25)

David Learns of Saul’s Death

1 After Saul’s death David came back from his victory over the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag for two days.

2 The next day a young man arrived from Saul’s camp. To show his grief, he had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head. He went to David and bowed to the ground in respect.

3 David asked him, “Where have you come from?”

“I have escaped from the Israelite camp,” he answered.

4 “Tell me what happened,” David said.

“Our army ran away from the battle,” he replied, “and many of our men were killed. Saul and his son Jonathan were also killed.”

5 “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan are dead?” David asked him.

6 He answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and I saw that Saul was leaning on his spear and that the chariots and cavalry of the enemy were closing in on him.

7 Then he turned around, saw me, and called to me. I answered, ‘Yes, sir!’

8 He asked who I was, and I told him that I was an Amalekite.

9 Then he said, ‘Come here and kill me! I have been badly wounded, and I’m about to die.’

10 So I went up to him and killed him, because I knew that he would die anyway as soon as he fell. Then I took the crown from his head and the bracelet from his arm, and I have brought them to you, sir.”

11 David tore his clothes in sorrow, and all his men did the same.

12 They grieved and mourned and fasted until evening for Saul and Jonathan and for Israel, the people of theLord, because so many had been killed in battle.

13 David asked the young man who had brought him the news, “Where are you from?”

He answered, “I’m an Amalekite, but I live in your country.”

14 David asked him, “How is it that you dared kill theLord’s chosen king?”

15 Then David called one of his men and said, “Kill him!” The man struck the Amalekite and mortally wounded him,

16 and David said to the Amalekite, “You brought this on yourself. You condemned yourself when you confessed that you killed the one whom theLordchose to be king.”

David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan

17 David sang this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan,

18 and ordered itto be taught to the people of Judah. (It is recorded inThe Book of Jashar.)

19 “On the hills of Israel our leaders are dead!

The bravest of our soldiers have fallen!

20 Do not announce it in Gath

or in the streets of Ashkelon.

Do not make the women of Philistia glad;

do not let the daughters of pagans rejoice.

21 “May no rain or dew fall on Gilboa’s hills;

may its fields be always barren!

For the shields of the brave lie there in disgrace;

the shield of Saul is no longer polished with oil.

22 Jonathan’s bow was deadly,

the sword of Saul was merciless,

striking down the mighty, killing the enemy.

23 “Saul and Jonathan, so wonderful and dear;

together in life, together in death;

swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.

24 “Women of Israel, mourn for Saul!

He clothed you in rich scarlet dresses

and adorned you with jewels and gold.

25 “The brave soldiers have fallen,

they were killed in battle.

Jonathan lies dead in the hills.

26 “I grieve for you, my brother Jonathan;

how dear you were to me!

How wonderful was your love for me,

better even than the love of women.

27 “The brave soldiers have fallen,

their weapons abandoned and useless.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/2SA/1-fb2acc1e8d27c44b415c42c3fbaff5cf.mp3?version_id=68—

David Is Made King of Judah

1 After this, David asked theLord, “Shall I go and take control of one of the towns of Judah?”

“Yes,” theLordanswered.

“Which one?” David asked.

“Hebron,” theLordsaid.

2 So David went to Hebron, taking with him his two wives: Ahinoam, who was from Jezreel, and Abigail, Nabal’s widow, who was from Carmel.

3 He also took his men and their families, and they settled in the towns around Hebron.

4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and anointed David as king of Judah.

When David heard that the people of Jabesh in Gilead had buried Saul,

5 he sent some men there with the message: “May theLordbless you for showing your loyalty to your king by burying him.

6 And now may theLordbe kind and faithful to you. I too will treat you well because of what you have done.

7 Be strong and brave! Saul your king is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me as their king.”

Ishbosheth Is Made King of Israel

8 The commander of Saul’s army, Abner son of Ner, had fled with Saul’s son Ishbosheth across the Jordan to Mahanaim.

9 There Abner made Ishbosheth king of the territories of Gilead, Asher,Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin, and indeed over all Israel.

10 He was forty years old when he was made king of Israel, and he ruled for two years.

But the tribe of Judah was loyal to David,

11 and he ruled in Hebron over Judah for seven and a half years.

War between Israel and Judah

12 Abner and the officials of Ishbosheth went from Mahanaim to the city of Gibeon.

13 Joab, whose mother was Zeruiah, and David’s other officials met them at the pool, where they all sat down, one group on one side of the pool and the other group on the opposite side.

14 Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have some of the young men from each side fight an armed contest.”

“All right,” Joab answered.

15 So twelve men, representing Ishbosheth and the tribe of Benjamin, fought twelve of David’s men.

16 Each man caught his opponent by the head and plunged his sword into his opponent’s side, so that all twenty-four of them fell down dead together. And so that place in Gibeon is called “Field of Swords.”

17 Then a furious battle broke out, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated by David’s men.

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

19 started chasing Abner, running straight for him.

20 Abner looked back and said, “Is that you, Asahel?”

“Yes,” he answered.

21 “Stop chasing me!” Abner said. “Run after one of the soldiers and take what he has.” But Asahel kept on chasing him.

22 Once more Abner said to him, “Stop chasing me! Why force me to kill you? How could I face your brother Joab?”

23 But Asahel would not quit; so Abner, with a backward thrustof his spear, struck him through the stomach so that the spear came out at his back. Asahel dropped to the ground dead, and everyone who came to the place where he was lying stopped and stood there.

24 But Joab and Abishai started out after Abner, and at sunset they came to the hill of Ammah, which is to the east of Giah on the road to the wilderness of Gibeon.

25 The men from the tribe of Benjamin gathered around Abner again and took their stand on the top of a hill.

26 Abner called out to Joab, “Do we have to go on fighting forever? Can’t you see that in the end there will be nothing but bitterness? We are your relatives. How long will it be before you order your men to stop chasing us?”

27 “I swear by the living God,” Joab answered, “that if you had not spoken, my men would have kept on chasing you until tomorrow morning.”

28 Then Joab blew the trumpet as a signal for his men to stop pursuing the Israelites; and so the fighting stopped.

29 Abner and his men marched through the Jordan Valley all that night; they crossed the Jordan River, and after marching all the next morning, they arrived back at Mahanaim.

30 When Joab gave up the chase, he gathered all his men and found that nineteen of them were missing, in addition to Asahel.

31 David’s men had killed 360 of Abner’s men from the tribe of Benjamin.

32 Joab and his men took Asahel’s body and buried it in the family tomb at Bethlehem. Then they marched all night and at dawn arrived back at Hebron.

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1 The fighting between the forces supporting Saul’s family and those supporting David went on for a long time. As David became stronger and stronger, his opponents became weaker and weaker.

David’s Sons

2 The following six sons, in order of their birth, were born to David at Hebron: Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam, from Jezreel;

3 Chileab, whose mother was Abigail, Nabal’s widow, from Carmel; Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;

4 Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith; Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital;

5 Ithream, whose mother was Eglah. All of these sons were born in Hebron.

Abner Joins David

6 As the fighting continued between David’s forces and the forces loyal to Saul’s family, Abner became more and more powerful among Saul’s followers.

7 One day Ishbosheth son of Saul accused Abner of sleeping with Saul’s concubine Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah.

8 This made Abner furious. “Do you think that I would betray Saul? Do you really think I’m serving Judah?” he exclaimed. “From the very first I have been loyal to the cause of your father Saul, his brothers, and his friends, and I have kept you from being defeated by David; yet today you find fault with me about a woman!

9-10 TheLordpromised David that he would take the kingdom away from Saul and his descendants and would make David king of both Israel and Judah, from one end of the country to the other. Now may God strike me dead if I don’t make this come true!”

11 Ishbosheth was so afraid of Abner that he could not say a word.

12 Abner sent messengers to David, who at that time was at Hebron,to say, “Who is going to rule this land? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you win all Israel over to your side.”

13 “Good!” David answered. “I will make an agreement with you on one condition: you must bring Saul’s daughter Michal to me when you come to see me.”

14 And David also sent messengers to Ishbosheth to say, “Give me back my wife Michal. I paid a hundred Philistine foreskins in order to marry her.”

15 So Ishbosheth had her taken from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.

16 Paltiel followed her all the way to the town of Bahurim, crying as he went. But when Abner said, “Go back home,” he did.

17 Abner went to the leaders of Israel and said to them, “For a long time you have wanted David to be your king.

18 Now here is your chance. Remember that theLordhas said, ‘I will use my servant David to rescue my people Israel from the Philistines and from all their other enemies.’”

19 Abner spoke also to the people of the tribe of Benjamin and then went to Hebron to tell David what the people of Benjamin and of Israel had agreed to do.

20 When Abner came to David at Hebron with twenty men, David gave a feast for them.

21 Abner told David, “I will go now and win all Israel over to Your Majesty. They will accept you as king, and then you will get what you have wanted and will rule over the whole land.” David gave Abner a guarantee of safety and sent him on his way.

Abner Is Murdered

22 Later on Joab and David’s other officials returned from a raid, bringing a large amount of loot with them. Abner, however, was no longer there at Hebron with David, because David had sent him away with a guarantee of safety.

23 When Joab and his men arrived, he was told that Abner had come to King David and had been sent away with a guarantee of safety.

24 So Joab went to the king and said to him, “What have you done? Abner came to you—why did you let him go like that?

25 He came here to deceive you and to find out everything you do and everywhere you go. Surely you know that!”

26 After leaving David, Joab sent messengers to get Abner, and they brought him back from Sirah Well; but David knew nothing about it.

27 When Abner arrived in Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gate, as though he wanted to speak privately with him, and there he stabbed him in the stomach. And so Abner was murdered because he had killed Joab’s brother Asahel.

28 When David heard the news, he said, “TheLordknows that my subjects and I are completely innocent of the murder of Abner.

29 May the punishment for it fall on Joab and all his family! In every generation may there be some man in his family who has gonorrhea or a dreaded skin disease or is fit only to do a woman’s work or is killed in battle or doesn’t have enough to eat!”

30 So Joab and his brother Abishai took revenge on Abner for killing their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.

Abner Is Buried

31 Then David ordered Joab and his men to tear their clothes, wear sackcloth, and mourn for Abner. And at the funeral King David himself walked behind the coffin.

32 Abner was buried at Hebron, and the king wept aloud at the grave, and so did all the people.

33 David sang this lament for Abner:

“Why did Abner have to die like a fool?

34 His hands were not tied,

And his feet were not bound;

He died like someone killed by criminals!”

And the people wept for him again.

35 All day long the people tried to get David to eat something, but he made a solemn promise, “May God strike me dead if I eat anything before the day is over!”

36 They took note of this and were pleased. Indeed, everything the king did pleased the people.

37 All of David’s people and all the people in Israel understood that the king had no part in the murder of Abner.

38 The king said to his officials, “Don’t you realize that this day a great leader in Israel has died?

39 Even though I am the king chosen by God, I feel weak today. These sons of Zeruiah are too violent for me. May theLordpunish these criminals as they deserve!”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/2SA/3-3fd58e04becc0d11e4e3ff355821a627.mp3?version_id=68—