The House of David Strengthened (1 Chronicles 3:1–9)
1 UEB Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. BSB BSB: Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
2 UEB Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam from Jezreel. BSB BSB: And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;
3 UEB His second son, Kileab, was born to Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. The third, Absalom, was son of Maacah, daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. BSB BSB: his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;
4 UEB David's fourth son, Adonijah, was the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah son of Abital, BSB BSB: his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital;
5 UEB and the sixth, Ithream, was the son of David's wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron. BSB BSB: and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron.
Abner Joins David 6 UEB It came about during the war between the house of Saul and the house of David that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul. BSB BSB: During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul.
7 UEB Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. Ishbosheth said to Abner, "Why have you slept with my father's concubine?" BSB BSB: Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”
8 UEB Then Abner was very angry at the words of Ishbosheth and said, "Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? Today I am showing faithfulness to the house of Saul, your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, by not delivering you into the hand of David. But now you accuse me of an offense concerning this woman? BSB BSB: Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman!
9 UEB May God do so to me, Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David as Yahweh has sworn to him, BSB BSB: May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him:
10 UEB to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba." BSB BSB: to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”
11 UEB Ishbosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. BSB BSB: And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him.
12 UEB Then Abner sent messengers to David to speak for him saying, "Whose land is this? Make a covenant with me, and you will see that my hand is with you, to bring all Israel to you." BSB BSB: Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”
13 UEB David answered, "Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require from you is that you cannot see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see me." BSB BSB: “Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.”
14 UEB Then David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul's son, saying, "Give me my wife Michal, for whom I paid a price of one hundred Philistine foreskins." BSB BSB: Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.”
15 UEB So Ishbosheth sent for Michal and took her from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish. BSB BSB: So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.
16 UEB Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Return home now." So he returned. BSB BSB: Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home.
17 UEB Abner spoke with the elders of Israel saying, "In the past you were trying to have David be king over you. BSB BSB: Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king.
18 UEB Now do it. For Yahweh has spoken of David saying, 'By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.'" BSB BSB: Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’”
19 UEB Abner also spoke personally to the people of Benjamin. Then Abner went also to speak with David in Hebron to explain everything that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin desired to accomplish. BSB BSB: Abner also spoke to the Benjamites. Then he went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.
20 UEB When Abner and twenty of his men arrived in Hebron to see David, David had a feast prepared for them. BSB BSB: When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them.
21 UEB Abner explained to David, "I will arise and gather all Israel to you, my master the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, so that you may reign over all that you desire." So David sent Abner away, and Abner left in peace. BSB BSB: Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.
Joab Murders Abner 22 UEB Then the soldiers of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much plunder with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron. David had sent him away, and Abner had left in peace. BSB BSB: Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid, bringing with them a great plunder. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, because David had sent him on his way in peace.
23 UEB When Joab and all the army with him arrived, they told Joab, "Abner son of Ner came to the king, and the king has sent him away, and Abner left in peace." BSB BSB: When Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.”
24 UEB Then Joab came to the king and said, "What have you done? Look, Abner came to you! Why have you sent him away, and he is gone? BSB BSB: So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away!
25 UEB Do you not know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to discover your plans and learn everything you are doing?" BSB BSB: Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.”
26 UEB When Joab left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah, but David did not know this. BSB BSB: As soon as Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David was unaware of it.
27 UEB When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the middle of the gate to speak with him quietly. There Joab stabbed him in the stomach and killed him. In this way, Joab avenged the blood of Asahel his brother. BSB BSB: When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.
28 UEB When David heard about this he said, "I and my kingdom are innocent before Yahweh forever regarding the blood of Abner son of Ner. BSB BSB: Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.
29 UEB Let the guilt of Abner's death fall on the head of Joab and on all his father's house. May there never fail to be in the family of Joab someone who has a flowing sore or skin disease or who is lame and must walk with a staff or who is killed by the sword or who goes without food." BSB BSB: May it whirl over the head of Joab and over the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.”
30 UEB So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in battle. BSB BSB: (Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)
David Mourns for Abner 31 UEB David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner's body." Now King David walked behind the body in the funeral procession. BSB BSB: Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier.
32 UEB They buried Abner in Hebron. The king wept and cried loudly at the tomb of Abner, and all the people also wept. BSB BSB: When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept.
33 UEB The king lamented for Abner and sang, "Should Abner die as a fool dies? BSB BSB: And the king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner die the death of a fool?
34 UEB Your hands were not bound. Your feet were not shackled. As a man falls before the sons of injustice, so you have fallen." Once more all the people wept over him. BSB BSB: Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. As a man falls before the wicked, so also you fell.” And all the people wept over him even more.
35 UEB All the people came to make David eat while it was still day, but David swore, "May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down." BSB BSB: Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”
36 UEB All the people took notice of David's grief, and it pleased them, as whatever the king did pleased them. BSB BSB: All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them.
37 UEB So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not the king's desire to kill Abner son of Ner. BSB BSB: So on that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.
38 UEB The king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? BSB BSB: Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel?
39 UEB Now I am weak today, though I am an anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too brutal for me. May Yahweh repay the evildoer by punishing him for his wickedness, as he deserves." BSB BSB: And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!”
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