<vn='1'>Now there <sn="1961">was</s><sn="752">long</s><sn="4421">war</s><sn="996">between</s> the <sn="1004">house</s> of <sn="7586">Saul</s> and the <sn="1004">house</s> of <sn="1732">David</s>: but <sn="1732">David</s> waxed stronger and <sn="1980 2390">stronger</s>, and the <sn="1004">house</s> of <sn="7586">Saul</s><sn="1980">waxed</s> weaker and <sn="1800">weaker</s>. </v>
<vn='2'>And unto <sn="1732">David</s> were <sn="1121">sons</s><sn="3205">born</s> in <sn="2275">Hebron</s>: and his <sn="1060">firstborn</s><sn="1961">was</s><sn="550">Amnon</s>, of <sn="293">Ahinoam</s> the <sn="3159">Jezreelitess</s>; </v>
<vn='3'>And his <sn="4932">second</s>, <sn="3609">Chileab</s>, of <sn="26">Abigail</s> the <sn="802">wife</s> of <sn="5037">Nabal</s> the <sn="3761">Carmelite</s>; and the <sn="7992">third</s>, <sn="53">Absalom</s> the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="4601">Maacah</s> the <sn="1323">daughter</s> of <sn="8526">Talmai</s><sn="4428">king</s> of <sn="1650">Geshur</s>; </v>
<vn='4'>And the <sn="7243">fourth</s>, <sn="138">Adonijah</s> the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="2294">Haggith</s>; and the <sn="2549">fifth</s>, <sn="8203">Shephatiah</s> the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="37">Abital</s>; </v>
<vn='5'>And the <sn="8345">sixth</s>, <sn="3507">Ithream</s>, by <sn="5698">Eglah</s><sn="1732">David</s> 's <sn="802">wife</s>. <sn="428">These</s> were <sn="3205">born</s> to <sn="1732">David</s> in <sn="2275">Hebron</s>. </v>
<vn='6'>And it came to <sn="1961">pass</s>, while there <sn="1961">was</s><sn="4421">war</s><sn="996">between</s> the <sn="1004">house</s> of <sn="7586">Saul</s> and the <sn="1004">house</s> of <sn="1732">David</s>, that <sn="74">Abner</s> made himself <sn="2388">strong</s> for the <sn="1004">house</s> of <sn="7586">Saul</s>. </v>
<vn='7'>And <sn="7586">Saul</s> had a <sn="6370">concubine</s>, whose <sn="8034">name</s> was <sn="7532">Rizpah</s>, the <sn="1323">daughter</s> of <sn="345">Aiah</s>: and Ish-bosheth <sn="559">said</s><sn="413">to</s><sn="74">Abner</s>, <sn="4069">Wherefore</s> hast thou <sn="935">gone</s> in <sn="413">unto</s> my <sn="1">father</s> 's <sn="6370">concubine</s>? </v>
<vn='8'>Then was <sn="74">Abner</s><sn="3966">very</s><sn="2734">wroth</s><sn="5921">for</s> the <sn="1697">words</s> of <sn="378">Ish</s> -bosheth, and <sn="559">said</s>, Am <sn="595">I</s> a <sn="3611">dog</s> 's <sn="7218">head</s>, <sn="834">which</s> against <sn="3063">Judah</s> do <sn="6213">show</s><sn="2617">kindness</s> this <sn="3117">day</s><sn="5973">unto</s> the <sn="1004">house</s> of <sn="7586">Saul</s> thy <sn="1">father</s>, <sn="413">to</s> his <sn="251">brethren</s>, and <sn="413">to</s> his <sn="4828">friends</s>, and have <sn="3808">not</s><sn="4672">delivered</s> thee into the <sn="3027">hand</s> of <sn="1732">David</s>, that thou <sn="6485 5921">chargest</s> me <sn="3117">today</s> with a <sn="5771">fault</s> concerning this <sn="802">woman</s>? </v>
<vn='9'><sn="3541">So</s><sn="6213">do</s><sn="430">God</s> to <sn="74">Abner</s>, and <sn="3254">more</s><sn="3541">also</s>, <sn="3588">except</s>, <sn="834">as</s> the <sn="3068">LORD</s> hath <sn="7650">sworn</s> to <sn="1732">David</s>, <sn="3588">even</s><sn="3651">so</s> I <sn="6213">do</s> to him; </v>
<vn='10'>To <sn="5674">translate</s> the <sn="4467">kingdom</s> from the <sn="4480 1004">house</s> of <sn="7586">Saul</s>, and to set <sn="6965">up</s> the <sn="*853"></s><sn="3678">throne</s> of <sn="1732">David</s><sn="5921">over</s><sn="3478">Israel</s> and <sn="5921">over</s><sn="3063">Judah</s>, from <sn="4480 1835">Dan</s> even <sn="5704">to</s><sn="884">Beer</s> -sheba. </v>
<vn='11'>And he <sn="3201">could</s><sn="3808">not</s><sn="7725">answer</s><sn="*853"></s><sn="74">Abner</s> a <sn="1697">word</s><sn="5750">again</s>, because he <sn="4480 3372">feared</s> him. </v>
<vn='12'>And <sn="74">Abner</s><sn="7971">sent</s><sn="4397">messengers</s><sn="413">to</s><sn="1732">David</s> on his <sn="8478">behalf</s>, <sn="559">saying</s>, <sn="4310">Whose</s> is the <sn="776">land</s>? <sn="559">saying</s> also, <sn="3772">Make</s> thy <sn="1285">league</s><sn="854">with</s> me, and, <sn="2009">behold</s>, my <sn="3027">hand</s> shall be <sn="5973">with</s> thee, to bring <sn="5437">about</s><sn="*853"></s><sn="3605">all</s><sn="3478">Israel</s><sn="413">unto</s> thee. </v>
<vn='13'>And he <sn="559">said</s>, <sn="2896">Well</s>; <sn="589">I</s> will <sn="3772">make</s> a <sn="1285">league</s><sn="854">with</s> thee: <sn="389">but</s><sn="259">one</s><sn="1697">thing</s><sn="595">I</s><sn="7592">require</s><sn="4480 854">of</s> thee, that <sn="559">is</s>, Thou shalt <sn="3808">not</s><sn="7200">see</s><sn="*853"></s> my <sn="6440">face</s>, <sn="3588 518">except</s> thou <sn="6440">first</s><sn="935">bring</s><sn="*853"></s><sn="4324">Michal</s><sn="7586">Saul</s> 's <sn="1323">daughter</s>, when thou <sn="935">comest</s> to <sn="7200">see</s><sn="*853"></s> my <sn="6440">face</s>. </v>
<vn='14'>And <sn="1732">David</s><sn="7971">sent</s><sn="4397">messengers</s><sn="413">to</s><sn="378">Ish</s> -bosheth <sn="7586">Saul</s> 's <sn="1121">son</s>, <sn="559">saying</s>, <sn="5414">Deliver</s> me <sn="*853"></s> my <sn="802">wife</s><sn="*853"></s><sn="4324">Michal</s>, <sn="834">which</s> I <sn="781">espoused</s> to me for a <sn="3967">hundred</s><sn="6190">foreskins</s> of the <sn="6430">Philistines</s>. </v>
<vn='15'>And <sn="378">Ish</s> -bosheth <sn="7971">sent</s>, and <sn="3947">took</s> her <sn="4480 5973">from</s> her <sn="376">husband</s>, even <sn="4480 5973">from</s><sn="6409">Phaltiel</s> the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="3919">Laish</s>. </v>
<vn='16'>And her <sn="376">husband</s><sn="1980">went</s><sn="854">with</s> her <sn="1980">along</s><sn="1058">weeping</s><sn="310">behind</s> her <sn="5704">to</s><sn="980">Bahurim</s>. Then <sn="559">said</s><sn="74">Abner</s><sn="413">unto</s> him, <sn="1980">Go</s>, <sn="7725">return</s>. And he <sn="7725">returned</s>. </v>
<vn='17'>And <sn="74">Abner</s><sn="1961">had</s><sn="1697">communication</s><sn="5973">with</s> the <sn="2205">elders</s> of <sn="3478">Israel</s>, <sn="559">saying</s>, Ye <sn="1961 1245">sought</s> for <sn="*853"></s><sn="1732">David</s> in <sn="1571 8543">times</s><sn="1571 8032">past</s> to be <sn="4428">king</s><sn="5921">over</s> you: </v>
<vn='18'><sn="6258">Now</s> then <sn="6213">do</s> it: <sn="3588">for</s> the <sn="3068">LORD</s> hath <sn="559">spoken</s><sn="413">of</s><sn="1732">David</s>, <sn="559">saying</s>, By the <sn="3027">hand</s> of my <sn="5650">servant</s><sn="1732">David</s> I will <sn="3467">save</s><sn="*853"></s> my <sn="5971">people</s><sn="3478">Israel</s> out of the <sn="4480 3027">hand</s> of the <sn="6430">Philistines</s>, and out of the <sn="4480 3027">hand</s> of <sn="3605">all</s> their <sn="341">enemies</s>. </v>
<vn='19'>And <sn="74">Abner</s><sn="1571">also</s><sn="1696">spoke</s> in the <sn="241">ears</s> of <sn="1144">Benjamin</s>: and <sn="74">Abner</s><sn="1980">went</s><sn="1571">also</s> to <sn="1696">speak</s> in the <sn="241">ears</s> of <sn="1732">David</s> in <sn="2275">Hebron</s><sn="*853"></s><sn="3605">all</s><sn="834">that</s> seemed <sn="2896 5869">good</s> to <sn="3478">Israel</s>, and that seemed <sn="5869">good</s> to the <sn="3605">whole</s><sn="1004">house</s> of <sn="1144">Benjamin</s>. </v>
<vn='20'>So <sn="74">Abner</s><sn="935">came</s><sn="413">to</s><sn="1732">David</s> to <sn="2275">Hebron</s>, and <sn="6242">twenty</s><sn="376">men</s><sn="854">with</s> him. And <sn="1732">David</s><sn="6213">made</s><sn="74">Abner</s> and the <sn="376">men</s><sn="834">that</s> were <sn="854">with</s> him a <sn="4960">feast</s>. </v>
<vn='21'>And <sn="74">Abner</s><sn="559">said</s><sn="413">unto</s><sn="1732">David</s>, I will <sn="6965">arise</s> and <sn="1980">go</s>, and will <sn="6908">gather</s><sn="*853"></s><sn="3605">all</s><sn="3478">Israel</s><sn="413">unto</s> my <sn="113">lord</s> the <sn="4428">king</s>, that they may <sn="3772">make</s> a <sn="1285">league</s><sn="854">with</s> thee, and that thou mayest <sn="4427">reign</s> over <sn="3605">all</s><sn="834">that</s> thine <sn="5315">heart</s><sn="183">desireth</s>. And <sn="1732">David</s><sn="7971">sent</s><sn="*853"></s><sn="74">Abner</s> away; and he <sn="1980">went</s> in <sn="7965">peace</s>. </v>
<vn='22'>And, <sn="2009">behold</s>, the <sn="5650">servants</s> of <sn="1732">David</s> and <sn="3097">Joab</s><sn="935">came</s> from pursuing a <sn="4480 1416">troop</s>, and <sn="935">brought</s> in a <sn="7227">great</s><sn="7998">spoil</s><sn="5973">with</s> them: but <sn="74">Abner</s> was <sn="369">not</s><sn="5973">with</s><sn="1732">David</s> in <sn="2275">Hebron</s>; <sn="3588">for</s> he had sent him <sn="7971">away</s>, and he was <sn="1980">gone</s> in <sn="7965">peace</s>. </v>
<vn='23'>When <sn="3097">Joab</s> and <sn="3605">all</s> the <sn="6635">host</s><sn="834">that</s> was <sn="854">with</s> him were <sn="935">come</s>, they <sn="5046">told</s><sn="3097">Joab</s>, <sn="559">saying</s>, <sn="74">Abner</s> the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="5369">Ner</s><sn="935">came</s><sn="413">to</s> the <sn="4428">king</s>, and he hath sent him <sn="7971">away</s>, and he is <sn="1980">gone</s> in <sn="7965">peace</s>. </v>
<vn='24'>Then <sn="3097">Joab</s><sn="935">came</s><sn="413">to</s> the <sn="4428">king</s>, and <sn="559">said</s>, <sn="4100">What</s> hast thou <sn="6213">done</s>? <sn="2009">behold</s>, <sn="74">Abner</s><sn="935">came</s><sn="413">unto</s> thee; <sn="4100">why</s> is it that thou hast sent him <sn="7971">away</s>, and he is quite <sn="1980">gone</s>? </v>
<vn='25'>Thou <sn="3045">knowest</s><sn="*853"></s><sn="74">Abner</s> the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="5369">Ner</s>, <sn="3588">that</s> he <sn="935">came</s> to <sn="6601">deceive</s> thee, and to <sn="3045">know</s><sn="*853"></s> thy going <sn="4161">out</s> and thy coming <sn="4126">in</s>, and to <sn="3045">know</s><sn="*853"></s><sn="3605">all</s><sn="834">that</s><sn="859">thou</s><sn="6213">doest</s>. </v>
<vn='26'>And when <sn="3097">Joab</s> was come <sn="3318">out</s><sn="4480 5973">from</s><sn="1732">David</s>, he <sn="7971">sent</s><sn="4397">messengers</s><sn="310">after</s><sn="74">Abner</s>, which brought him <sn="7725 *853">again</s> from the <sn="4480 953">well</s> of <sn="5626">Sirah</s>: but <sn="1732">David</s><sn="3045">knew</s> it <sn="3808">not</s>. </v>
<vn='27'>And when <sn="74">Abner</s> was <sn="7725">returned</s> to <sn="2275">Hebron</s>, <sn="3097">Joab</s> took him <sn="5186">aside</s><sn="413 8432">in</s> the <sn="8179">gate</s> to <sn="1696">speak</s><sn="854">with</s> him <sn="7987">quietly</s>, and <sn="5221">smote</s> him <sn="8033">there</s> under the <sn="2570">fifth</s> rib, that he <sn="4191">died</s>, for the <sn="1818">blood</s> of <sn="6214">Asahel</s> his <sn="251">brother</s>. </v>
<vn='28'>And <sn="4480 310 3651">afterward</s> when <sn="1732">David</s><sn="8085">heard</s> it, he <sn="559">said</s>, <sn="595">I</s> and my <sn="4467">kingdom</s> are <sn="5355">guiltless</s><sn="4480 5973">before</s> the <sn="3068">LORD</s><sn="5704 5769">forever</s> from the <sn="4480 1818">blood</s> of <sn="74">Abner</s> the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="5369">Ner</s>: </v>
<vn='29'>Let it <sn="2342">rest</s><sn="5921">on</s> the <sn="7218">head</s> of <sn="3097">Joab</s>, and <sn="413">on</s><sn="3605">all</s> his <sn="1">father</s> 's <sn="1004">house</s>; and let there <sn="408">not</s><sn="3772">fail</s> from the <sn="4480 1004">house</s> of <sn="3097">Joab</s> one that hath an <sn="2100">issue</s>, or that is a <sn="6879">leper</s>, or that <sn="2388">leaneth</s> on a <sn="6418">staff</s>, or that <sn="5307">falleth</s> on the <sn="2719">sword</s>, or that <sn="2638">lacketh</s><sn="3899">bread</s>. </v>
<vn='30'>So <sn="3097">Joab</s> and <sn="52">Abishai</s> his <sn="251">brother</s><sn="2026">slew</s><sn="74">Abner</s>, <sn="5921 834">because</s> he had <sn="4191">slain</s> their <sn="251">brother</s><sn="*853"></s><sn="6214">Asahel</s> at <sn="1391">Gibeon</s> in the <sn="4421">battle</s>. </v>
<vn='31'>And <sn="1732">David</s><sn="559">said</s><sn="413">to</s><sn="3097">Joab</s>, and <sn="413">to</s><sn="3605">all</s> the <sn="5971">people</s><sn="834">that</s> were <sn="854">with</s> him, <sn="7167">Rend</s> your <sn="899">clothes</s>, and <sn="2296">gird</s> you with <sn="8242">sackcloth</s>, and <sn="5594">mourn</s><sn="6440">before</s><sn="74">Abner</s>. And <sn="4428">king</s><sn="1732">David</s> himself <sn="310">followed</s> the <sn="4296">bier</s>. </v>
<vn='32'>And they <sn="6912">buried</s><sn="*853"></s><sn="74">Abner</s> in <sn="2275">Hebron</s>: and the <sn="4428">king</s> lifted <sn="5375">up</s><sn="*853"></s> his <sn="6963">voice</s>, and <sn="1058">wept</s><sn="413">at</s> the <sn="6913">grave</s> of <sn="74">Abner</s>; and <sn="3605">all</s> the <sn="5971">people</s><sn="1058">wept</s>. </v>
<vn='33'>And the <sn="4428">king</s><sn="6969">lamented</s><sn="413">over</s><sn="74">Abner</s>, and <sn="559">said</s>, <sn="4191">Died</s><sn="74">Abner</s> as a <sn="5036">fool</s><sn="4194">dieth</s>? </v>
<vn='34'>Thy <sn="3027">hands</s> were <sn="3808">not</s><sn="631">bound</s>, <sn="3808">nor</s> thy <sn="7272">feet</s><sn="5066">put</s> into <sn="5178">fetters</s>: as a <sn="1121">man</s><sn="5307">falleth</s><sn="6440">before</s><sn="5766">wicked</s><sn="1121">men</s>, so <sn="5307">fellest</s> thou. And <sn="3605">all</s> the <sn="5971">people</s><sn="1058">wept</s><sn="3254">again</s><sn="5921">over</s> him. </v>
<vn='35'>And when <sn="3605">all</s> the <sn="5971">people</s><sn="935">came</s> to cause <sn="*853"></s><sn="1732">David</s> to <sn="1262">eat</s><sn="3899">meat</s> while it was <sn="5750">yet</s><sn="3117">day</s>, <sn="1732">David</s><sn="7650">swore</s>, <sn="559">saying</s>, <sn="3541">So</s><sn="6213">do</s><sn="430">God</s> to me, and <sn="3254">more</s><sn="3541">also</s>, <sn="3588 518">if</s> I <sn="2938">taste</s><sn="3899">bread</s>, <sn="176">or</s> aught <sn="3605 3972">else</s>, <sn="6440">till</s> the <sn="8121">sun</s> be <sn="935">down</s>. </v>
<vn='36'>And <sn="3605">all</s> the <sn="5971">people</s> took <sn="5234">notice</s> of it, and it pleased <sn="3190 5869">them</s>: as <sn="3605 834">whatsoever</s> the <sn="4428">king</s><sn="6213">did</s><sn="2895 5869">pleased</s><sn="3605">all</s> the <sn="5971">people</s>. </v>
<vn='37'>For <sn="3605">all</s> the <sn="5971">people</s> and <sn="3605">all</s><sn="3478">Israel</s><sn="3045">understood</s><sn="1931">that</s><sn="3117">day</s><sn="3588">that</s> it <sn="1961">was</s><sn="3808">not</s> of the <sn="4480 4428">king</s> to <sn="4191">slay</s><sn="74">Abner</s> the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="5369">Ner</s>. </v>
<vn='38'>And the <sn="4428">king</s><sn="559">said</s><sn="413">unto</s> his <sn="5650">servants</s>, <sn="3045">Know</s> ye <sn="3808">not</s><sn="3588">that</s> there is a <sn="8269">prince</s> and a great <sn="1419">man</s><sn="5307">fallen</s><sn="2088">this</s><sn="3117">day</s> in <sn="3478">Israel</s>? </v>
<vn='39'>And <sn="595">I</s> am this <sn="3117">day</s><sn="7390">weak</s>, though <sn="4886">anointed</s><sn="4428">king</s>; and <sn="428">these</s><sn="376">men</s> the <sn="1121">sons</s> of <sn="6870">Zeruiah</s> be too <sn="7186">hard</s><sn="4480">for</s> me: the <sn="3068">LORD</s> shall <sn="7999">reward</s> the <sn="6213">doer</s> of <sn="7451">evil</s> according to his <sn="7451">wickedness</s>. </v>