1That was the beginning of a long war between those who were loyal to Saul and those loyal to David. As time passed David became stronger and stronger, while Saul’s dynasty became weaker and weaker.

8Abner was furious. “Am I some Judean dog to be kicked around like this?” he shouted. “After all I have done for your father, Saul, and his family and friends by not handing you over to David, is this my reward—that you find fault with me about this woman?

9May God strike me and even kill me if I don’t do everything I can to help David get what the Lord has promised him!

10I’m going to take Saul’s kingdom and give it to David. I will establish the throne of David over Israel as well as Judah, all the way from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.”

11Ishbosheth didn’t dare say another word because he was afraid of what Abner might do.

12Then Abner sent messengers to David, saying, “Doesn’t the entire land belong to you? Make a solemn pact with me, and I will help turn over all of Israel to you.”

13“All right,” David replied, “but I will not negotiate with you unless you bring back my wife Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come.”

14David then sent this message to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son: “Give me back my wife Michal, for I bought her with the lives3:14 Hebrew the foreskins. of 100 Philistines.”

15So Ishbosheth took Michal away from her husband, Palti3:15 As in 1 Sam 25:44; Hebrew reads Paltiel, a variant spelling of Palti. son of Laish.

16Palti followed along behind her as far as Bahurim, weeping as he went. Then Abner told him, “Go back home!” So Palti returned.

17Meanwhile, Abner had consulted with the elders of Israel. “For some time now,” he told them, “you have wanted to make David your king.

18Now is the time! For the Lord has said, ‘I have chosen David to save my people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and from all their other enemies.’”

19Abner also spoke with the men of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron to tell David that all the people of Israel and Benjamin had agreed to support him.

20When Abner and twenty of his men came to Hebron, David entertained them with a great feast.

21Then Abner said to David, “Let me go and call an assembly of all Israel to support my lord the king. They will make a covenant with you to make you their king, and you will rule over everything your heart desires.” So David sent Abner safely on his way.

24Joab rushed to the king and demanded, “What have you done? What do you mean by letting Abner get away?

25You know perfectly well that he came to spy on you and find out everything you’re doing!”

26Joab then left David and sent messengers to catch up with Abner, asking him to return. They found him at the well of Sirah and brought him back, though David knew nothing about it.

27When Abner arrived back at Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gateway as if to speak with him privately. But then he stabbed Abner in the stomach and killed him in revenge for killing his brother Asahel.

28When David heard about it, he declared, “I vow by the Lord that I and my kingdom are forever innocent of this crime against Abner son of Ner.

29Joab and his family are the guilty ones. May the family of Joab be cursed in every generation with a man who has open sores or leprosy3:29a Or or a contagious skin disease. The Hebrew word used here can describe various skin diseases. or who walks on crutches3:29b Or who is effeminate; Hebrew reads who handles a spindle. or dies by the sword or begs for food!”

30So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel at the battle of Gibeon.

35David had refused to eat anything on the day of the funeral, and now everyone begged him to eat. But David had made a vow, saying, “May God strike me and even kill me if I eat anything before sundown.”

36This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them!

37So everyone in Judah and all Israel understood that David was not responsible for Abner’s murder.

38Then King David said to his officials, “Don’t you realize that a great commander has fallen today in Israel?

39And even though I am the anointed king, these two sons of Zeruiah—Joab and Abishai—are too strong for me to control. So may the Lord repay these evil men for their evil deeds.”