1	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.
			2	And unto David were sons born# # # # in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
			3	And 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; [Chileab: or, Daniel]
			4	And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
			5	And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born# to David in Hebron.
			6	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.
			7	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?
			8	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?
			9	So do# God to Abner, and more also# , except, as the LORD hath sworn# to David, even so I do# to him;
			10	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.
			11	And he could# not answer# Abner a word again, because he feared# him.
			12	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.
			13	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. [that is: Heb. saying]
			14	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.
			15	And Ishbosheth sent# , and took# her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish# # . [Phaltiel: also called, Phalti]
			16	And her husband went# with her along weeping# # # behind her to Bahurim. Then said# Abner unto him, Go# , return# . And he returned# . [along...: Heb. going and weeping]
			17	And Abner had communication# # with the elders of Israel, saying# , Ye sought# for David in times past to be king over you: [in times...: Heb. both yesterday and the third day]
			18	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# .
			19	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.
			20	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.
			21	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.
			22	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.
			23	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.
			24	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	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# .
			26	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.
			27	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. [quietly: or, peaceably]
			28	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: [blood: Heb. bloods]
			29	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. [fail: Heb. be cut off]
			30	So Joab and Abishai his brother slew# Abner, because he had slain# their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
			31	And 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. [bier: Heb. bed]
			32	And they buried# Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up# his voice, and wept# at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept# .
			33	And the king lamented# over Abner, and said# , Died# Abner as a fool dieth?
			34	Thy 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. [wicked...: Heb. children of iniquity]
			35	And 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# .
			36	And all the people took notice# of it , and it pleased# # them: as whatsoever the king did# pleased# all the people. [pleased them: Heb. was good in their eyes]
			37	For all the people and all Israel understood# that day that it was not of the king to slay# Abner the son of Ner.
			38	And the king said# unto his servants, Know# ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen# this day in Israel?
			39	And 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. [weak: Heb. tender]