2 Samuel 3

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.	1 There followed a long war between the house of Saul and that of David, in which David grew stronger, but the house of Saul weaker.
2 And sons were born to David at Hebron: his first-born was Amnon, of Ahino-am of Jezreel;	2 Sons were born to David in Hebron: his first-born, Amnon, of Ahinoam from Jezreel;
3 and his second, Chile-ab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;	3 the second, Chileab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom, son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;
4 and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;	4 the fourth, Adonijah, son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah, son of Abital;
5 and the sixth, Ithre-am, of Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.	5 and the sixth, Ithream, of David's wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.
6 While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.	6 During the war between the house of Saul and that of David, Abner was gaining power in the house of Saul.
7 Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?"	7 Now Saul had had a concubine, Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbaal, son of Saul, said to Abner, "Why have you been intimate with my father's concubine?"
8 Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, "Am I a dog's head of Judah? This day I keep showing loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman.	8 Enraged at the words of Ishbaal, Abner said, "Am I a dog's head in Judah? At present I am doing a kindness to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers and his friends, by keeping you out of David's clutches; yet this day you charge me with a crime involving a woman!
9 God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the LORD has sworn to him,	9 May God do thus and so to Abner if I do not carry out for David what the LORD swore to him--
10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beer-sheba."	10 that is, take away the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah from Dan to Beersheba."
11 And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.	11 In his fear of Abner, Ishbaal was no longer able to say a word to him.
12 And Abner sent messengers to David at Hebron, saying, "To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you."	12 Then Abner sent messengers to David in Telam, where he was at the moment, to say, "Make an agreement with me, and I will aid you by bringing all Israel over to you."
13 And he said, "Good; I will make a covenant with you; but one thing I require of you; that is, you shall not see my face, unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face."	13 He replied, "Very well, I will make an agreement with you. But one thing I require of you. You must not appear before me unless you bring back Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to present yourself to me."
14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul's son, saying, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed at the price of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines."	14 At the same time David sent messengers to Ishbaal, son of Saul, to say, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I espoused by paying a hundred Philistine foreskins."
15 And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband Palti-el the son of Laish.	15 Ishbaal sent for her and took her away from her husband Paltiel, son of Laish,
16 But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go, return"; and he returned.	16 who followed her weeping as far as Bahurim. But Abner said to him, "Go back!" And he turned back.
17 And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, "For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you.	17 Abner then said in discussion with the elders of Israel: "For a long time you have been seeking David as your king.
18 Now then bring it about; for the LORD has promised 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.'"	18 Now take action, for the LORD has said of David, 'By my servant David I will save my people Israel from the grasp of the Philistines and from the grasp of all their enemies.'"
19 Abner also spoke to Benjamin; and then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do.	19 Abner also spoke personally to Benjamin, and then went to make his own report to David in Hebron concerning all that would be agreeable to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.
20 When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.	20 When Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a feast for Abner and for the men who were with him.
21 And Abner said to David, "I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires." So David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.	21 Then Abner said to David, "I will now go to assemble all Israel for my lord the king, that they may make an agreement with you; you will then be king over all whom you wish to rule." So David bade Abner farewell, and he went away in peace.
22 Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.	22 Just then David's servants and Joab were coming in from an expedition, bringing much plunder with them. Abner, having been dismissed by David, was no longer with him in Hebron but had gone his way in peace.
23 When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, "Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace."	23 When Joab and the whole force he had with him arrived, he was informed, "Abner, son of Ner, came to David; he has been sent on his way in peace."
24 Then Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone?	24 So Joab went to the king and said: "What have you done? Abner came to you. Why did you let him go peacefully on his way?
25 You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing."	25 Are you not aware that Abner came to deceive you and to learn the ins and outs of all that you are doing?"
26 When Joab came out from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah; but David did not know about it.	26 Joab then left David, and without David's knowledge sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the cistern of Sirah.
27 And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he smote him in the belly, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.	27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside within the city gate as though to speak with him privately. There he stabbed him in the abdomen, and he died in revenge for the killing of Joab's brother Asahel.
28 Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, "I and my kingdom are for ever guiltless before the LORD for the blood of Abner the son of Ner.	28 Later David heard of it and said: "Before the LORD; I and my kingdom are forever innocent.
29 May it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father's house; and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge, or who is leprous, or who holds a spindle, or who is slain by the sword, or who lacks bread!"	29 May the full responsibility for the death of Abner, son of Ner, be laid to Joab and to all his family. May the men of Joab's family never be without one suffering from a discharge, or a leper, or one unmanly, one falling by the sword, or one in need of bread!"
30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.	30 (Joab and his brother Abishai had lain in wait for Abner because he killed their brother Asahel in battle at Gibeon.)
31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, "Rend your clothes, and gird on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner." And King David followed the bier.	31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, "Rend your garments, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn over Abner." King David himself followed the bier.
32 They buried Abner at Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.	32 When they had buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at the grave of Abner, and the people also wept.
33 And the king lamented for Abner, saying, "Should Abner die as a fool dies?	33 And the king sang this elegy over Abner: "Would Abner have died like a fool?
34 Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered; as one falls before the wicked you have fallen." And all the people wept again over him.	34 Your hands were not bound with chains, nor your feet placed in fetters; As men fall before the wicked, you fell." And all the people continued to weep for him.
35 Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, "God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!"	35 Then they went to console David with food while it was still day. But David swore, "May God do thus and so to me if I eat bread or anything else before sunset."
36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as everything that the king did pleased all the people.	36 All the people noted this with approval, just as they were pleased with everything that the king did.
37 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king's will to slay Abner the son of Ner.	37 So on that day all the people and all Israel came to know that the king had no part in the killing of Abner, son of Ner.
38 And the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?	38 The king then said to his servants: "You must recognize that a great general has fallen today in Israel.
39 And I am this day weak, though anointed king; these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. The LORD requite the evildoer according to his wickedness!"	39 Although I am the anointed king, I am weak this day, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too ruthless for me. May the LORD requite the evildoer in accordance with his evil deed."