KJV + Strong's The House of David Strengthened 1Now there was longwarbetween the houseof Sauland the houseof David:but Davidwaxedstrongerand stronger,and the houseof Saulwaxedweakerand weaker. 2And unto Davidwere sonsborn{08675;03205:08795} in Hebron:and his firstbornwas Amnon,of Ahinoamthe Jezreelitess;3And his second,Chileab,of Abigailthe wifeof Nabalthe Carmelite;and the third,Absalomthe sonof Maacahthe daughterof Talmaikingof Geshur;4And the fourth,Adonijahthe sonof Haggith;and the fifth,Shephatiahthe sonof Abital;5And the sixth,Ithream,by EglahDavid'swife.These were bornto Davidin Hebron. Abner Joins David 6And it came to pass, while there was warbetween the houseof Sauland the houseof David,that Abnermade himself strongfor the houseof Saul.7And Saulhad a concubine,whose name[was] Rizpah,the daughterof Aiah:and [Ishbosheth] saidto Abner,Wherefore hast thou gone inunto my father'sconcubine?8Then was Abnerverywrothfor the wordsof Ishbosheth,and said,[Am] I a dog'shead,which against Judahdo shewkindnessthis dayunto the houseof Saulthy father,to his brethren,and to his friends,and have not deliveredthee into the handof David,that thou chargestme to daywith a faultconcerning this woman?9So doGodto Abner,and more also,except, as the LORDhath swornto David,even so I doto him;10To translatethe kingdomfrom the houseof Saul,and to set upthe throneof Davidover Israeland over Judah,from Daneven to Beersheba.11And he couldnot answerAbnera wordagain, because he fearedhim. 12And Abnersentmessengersto Davidon his behalf, saying,Whose [is] the land?saying[also], Makethy leaguewith me, and, behold, my hand[shall be] with thee, to bring aboutall Israelunto thee.13And he said,Well;I will makea leaguewith thee: but onethingI requireof thee, that is,Thou shalt not seemy face,except thou firstbringMichalSaul'sdaughter,when thou comestto seemy face.14And Davidsentmessengersto IshboshethSaul'sson,saying,Deliver[me] my wifeMichal,which I espousedto me for an hundredforeskinsof the Philistines.15And Ishboshethsent,and tookher from [her] husband,[even] from Phaltielthe sonof Laish.16And her husbandwentwith her along weepingbehindher to Bahurim.Then saidAbnerunto him, Go,return.And he returned. 17And Abnerhad communicationwith the eldersof Israel,saying,Ye soughtfor Davidin timespast[to be] kingover you:18Now then do[it]: for the LORDhath spokenof David,saying,By the handof my servantDavidI will savemy peopleIsraelout of the handof the Philistines,and out of the handof all their enemies.19And Abneralso spakein the earsof Benjamin:and Abnerwentalso to speakin the earsof Davidin Hebronall that seemedgoodto Israel,and that seemed goodto the whole houseof Benjamin. 20So Abnercameto Davidto Hebron,and twentymenwith him. And DavidmadeAbnerand the menthat [were] with him a feast.21And Abnersaidunto David,I will ariseand go,and will gatherall Israelunto my lordthe king,that they may makea leaguewith thee, and that thou mayest reignover all that thine heartdesireth.And DavidsentAbneraway;and he wentin peace. Joab Murders Abner 22And, behold, the servantsof Davidand Joabcamefrom [pursuing] a troop,and brought ina greatspoilwith them: but Abner[was] not with Davidin Hebron;for he had sent him away,and he was gonein peace.23When Joaband all the hostthat [was] with him were come,they toldJoab,saying,Abnerthe sonof Nercameto the king,and he hath sent him away,and he is gonein peace.24Then Joabcameto the king,and said,What hast thou done?behold, Abnercameunto thee; why [is] it [that] thou hast sent him away,and he is quitegone?25Thou knowestAbnerthe sonof Ner,that he cameto deceivethee, and to knowthy going outand thy coming in,and to knowall that thou doest. 26And when Joabwas come outfrom David,he sentmessengersafterAbner,which brought him againfrom the wellof Sirah:but Davidknew[it] not.27And when Abnerwas returnedto Hebron,Joabtook him asideinthe gateto speakwith him quietly,and smotehim there under the fifth[rib], that he died,for the bloodof Asahelhis brother.28And afterwardwhen Davidheard[it], he said,I and my kingdom[are] guiltlessbefore the LORDforeverfrom the bloodof Abnerthe sonof Ner:29Let it reston the headof Joab,and on all his father'shouse;and let there not failfrom the houseof Joabone that hath an issue,or that is a leper,or that leanethon a staff,or that fallethon the sword,or that lackethbread.30So Joaband Abishaihis brotherslewAbner,because he had slaintheir brotherAsahelat Gibeonin the battle. David Mourns for Abner 31And Davidsaidto Joab,and to all the peoplethat [were] with him, Rendyour clothes,and girdyou with sackcloth,and mournbeforeAbner.And kingDavid[himself] followedthe bier.32And they buriedAbnerin Hebron:and the kinglifted uphis voice,and weptat the graveof Abner;and all the peoplewept. 33And the kinglamentedover Abner,and said,DiedAbneras a fooldieth? 34Thy hands[were] not bound,nor thy feetputinto fetters:as a man fallethbeforewickedmen,[so] fellestthou. And all the peopleweptagainover him. 35And when allthe peoplecameto causeDavidto eatmeatwhile it was yetday,Davidsware,saying,So doGodto me, and more also,if I tastebread,or oughtelse, tillthe sunbe down.36And all the peopletook notice[of it], and it pleasedthem: as whatsoever the kingdidpleasedall the people.37For all the peopleand all Israelunderstoodthat daythat it was not of the kingto slayAbnerthe sonof Ner.38And the kingsaidunto his servants,Knowye not that there is a princeand a great manfallenthis dayin Israel?39And I [am] this dayweak,though anointedking;and these menthe sonsof Zeruiah[be] too hardfor me: the LORDshall rewardthe doer of evilaccording to his wickedness. |
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