The House of David Strengthened (1 Chronicles 3:1–9)
1 ULT And the war was long between the house of Saul and between the house of David. And David was going and strong, but the house of Saul were going and weak. 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 ULT Now sons were born to David in Hebron. And his firstborn was Amnon, to Ahinoam the Jezreelitess. BSB BSB: And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;
3 ULT And his second{ was} Chileab, to Abigail, the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And the third{ was} Absalom, the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, the 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 ULT And the fourth{ was} Adonijah, the son of Haggith. And the fifth{ was} Shephatiah, the son of Abital. BSB BSB: his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital;
5 ULT And the sixth{ was} Ithream, to Eglah, the wife of David. These 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 ULT And it happened, when the war was between the house of Saul and between the house of David, that Abner was strengthening himself 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 ULT And a concubine{ was} to Saul, and her name{ was} Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And he said to Abner,“Why have you gone in to the concubine of my father?” 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 ULT And it burned greatly to Abner concerning the words of Ish Bosheth. And he said,“{ Am} I the head of a dog that{ is} to Judah? Today I am doing kindness with the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and I have not delivered you into the hand of David. Yet today you charge against me the iniquity of a 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 ULT Thus may God do to Abner, and thus may he add to him, if, according to what Yahweh has sworn to David, that thus I will do for 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 ULT to cause the kingdom to pass over from the house of Saul and to raise up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan and 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 ULT And he was not able to return a further word{ to} Abner, because of his fearing him. BSB BSB: And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him.
12 ULT And Abner sent messengers to David in place of him, saying,“To whom{ is} the land?” saying,“Cut your covenant with me, and behold, my hand{ will be} with you to make all of Israel turn 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 ULT And he said,“Good, I, I will cut a covenant with you. Only one thing I am asking from you, saying,‘You shall not see my face unless you bring Michal, the daughter of Saul, to my face when you come to see my face.’” 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 ULT And David sent messengers to Ish Bosheth, the son of Saul, saying,“Give{ me} my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself with 100 foreskins of Philistines.” 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 ULT And Ish Bosheth sent and took her from with{ her} husband, from with Paltiel, the son of Laish. BSB BSB: So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.
16 ULT And her husband went with her, going and weeping after her, to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him,“Go, return.” 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 ULT Now the word of Abner had been with the elders of Israel, saying,“Both yesterday and the third day you were seeking David as 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 ULT And now, do{ it}, for Yahweh spoke about David, saying,‘By the hand of David my servant, I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all of 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 ULT And Abner had also spoken in the ears of Benjamin. Then Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that{ had been} good in the eyes of Israel and in the eyes of all of the house of Benjamin. 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 ULT And Abner came to David{ in} Hebron, and with him{ were} 20 men. And David made a feast for Abner and for the men who{ were} with him. BSB BSB: When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them.
21 ULT Then Abner said to David,“Let me arise and go and gather to my lord the king all of Israel so they may cut a covenant with you so you may reign over all that your soul desires.” And David sent Abner away, and he went 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 ULT And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a raid, and they brought much plunder with them. But Abner, he{ was} not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away and he had gone 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 ULT And Joab and all of the army that{ was} with him came, and they declared to Joab, saying,“Abner, the son of Ner, came to the king, and he sent him away, and he went 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 ULT And Joab came to the king, and he said,“What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you! Why{ is} this, you have sent him away, and going, he has 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 ULT You know Abner, the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in and to know all that 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 ULT And Joab went out from with David, and he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know. 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 ULT And Abner returned{ to} Hebron, and Joab turned him aside to the middle of the gate to speak with him in quiet. And he struck him there{ in} the stomach, and he died, for 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 ULT And David heard after this, and he said,“I and my kingdom{ are} innocent from with Yahweh forever from the blood of Abner, the 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 ULT May it writhe on the head of Joab and to all of the house of his father, and may not be cut off from the house of Joab one discharging or one stricken with leprosy or one holding onto a staff or one falling by the sword or a destitute of bread.” 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 ULT Now Joab and Abishai his brother had murdered Abner because he had killed Asahel their brother at Gibeon in the 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 ULT And David said to Joab and to all of the people who{ were} with him,“Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn to the face of Abner.” And King David was walking behind the bier. 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 ULT And they buried Abner in Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all of the people wept. BSB BSB: When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept.
33 ULT And the king lamented for Abner, and he said,“Should Abner have died like the death of a fool? BSB BSB: And the king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner die the death of a fool?
34 ULT Your hands were not bound, and your feet were not put in shackles. As falling to the face of sons of wickedness, you have fallen.” And all of the people added to weep for 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 ULT Then all of the people came to make David eat bread while{ it was} still day, but David swore, saying,“Thus may God do to me, and thus may he add, that if to the face of the coming in of the sun I taste bread or any of a thing.” 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 ULT And all of the people noticed, and it was good in their eyes, as everything that the king did was good in the eyes of all of the people. BSB BSB: All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them.
37 ULT So all of the people and all of Israel knew on that day that it had not been from the king to kill Abner, the 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 ULT And the king said to his servants,“Do you not know that a commander and great 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 ULT And I{ am} weak today, though anointed king. For these men, the sons of Zeruiah,{ are} more harsh than I. May Yahweh repay the one doing evil according to his evil.” 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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