2 Samuel 3

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	NEW JERUSALEM
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 So the war dragged on between the House of Saul and the House of David, but David grew steadilystronger and the House of Saul steadily weaker.
2 And sons were born to David at Hebron: his first-born was Amnon, of Ahino-am of Jezreel;	2 The sons born to David at Hebron were: his first-born Amnon, by Ahinoam of 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 his second Chileab, by Abigail widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third Absalom son of Maacah, daughter ofTalmai 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 the sixth Ithream, by David's wife, Eglah. These were born to David at 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 This is what took place during the war between the House of Saul and the House of David. Abner tookcomplete control 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, there was a concubine of Saul's called Rizpah daughter of Aiah, and Abner took her. Ishbaal saidto Abner, 'Why have you slept 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 At these words of Ishbaal, Abner flew into a rage. 'Am I a dog's head?' he shouted. 'Here am I, ful offaithful love towards the House of Saul your father, his brothers and his friends, not leaving you to the hands ofDavid, and now you find fault with me over 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 bring unnameable il s on Abner, and worse ones, too, if I do not bring about what Yahweh hassworn to David:
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 to take the sovereignty from the House of Saul, and establish David's throne over Israel as well asJudah, from Dan to Beersheba!'
11 And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.	11 Ishbaal dared not say a single word to Abner in reply, as he was afraid of 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 Abner sent messengers on his own behalf to say to David, '. . . and furthermore, come to anagreement with me and I wil give you my support to win al 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 'Very wel ,' David said, 'I wil come to an agreement with you. I impose one condition however; you wilnot be admitted to my presence unless you bring me Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see 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 David then sent messengers to say to Ishbaal son of Saul, 'Give me back my wife Michal, whom Iacquired for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.'
15 And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband Palti-el the son of Laish.	15 So Ishbaal sent for her to be taken 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 Her husband set off with her and fol owed her, weeping as he went, as far as Bahurim; but Abner saidto him, 'Go back!' and he went.
17 And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, "For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you.	17 Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel. 'For a long time now,' he said, 'you have wanted Davidas 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 you must take action, since Yahweh has said of David, "By the hand of my servant David I shaldeliver my people Israel from the clutches of the Philistines and al 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 to the men of Benjamin and then went to Hebron to tel David everything that hadbeen agreed by Israel and the 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 Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David at Hebron, and David held a feast for Abner andthe 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 Abner then said to David, 'I must get up and go. I am going to rally al Israel to my lord the king, so thatthey will make an alliance with you, and you wil reign over al that you desire.' So David al owed Abner to go,and he went unmolested.
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 David's retainers were just then coming back with Joab from a raid, bringing a great quantity of bootywith them. Abner was no longer with David at Hebron, since David had allowed him to go, and he had goneunmolested.
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 company with him had arrived, Joab was told, 'Abner son of Ner has beento the king, and the king has al owed Abner to go away unmolested.'
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 Joab then went to the king and said, 'What have you done? Abner comes to you and you let him goaway and now he has gone-why?
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 You know Abner son of Ner! He came to trick you, to discover your every move, to find out what youare 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 left David's presence and sent messengers after Abner and these, unknown to David, broughthim back from the storage-wel at 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 reached Hebron, Joab took him aside in the town-gate, as if to have a quiet word withhim, and there struck him a mortal blow in the bel y to avenge the blood of his 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 Afterwards, when David heard of this, he said, 'I and my kingdom are for ever innocent before Yahwehof the blood of Abner son of Ner;
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 it fal on the head of Joab and on al his family! May the House of Joab never be free of menafflicted with haemorrhage or a virulent skin-disease, whose strength is in the distaff, who fall by the sword, wholack food.'
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 murdered Abner because he killed their brother Asahel at the battleof 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 David then said to Joab and the whole company with him, 'Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, andmourn over Abner,' and King David walked behind 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 They buried Abner at Hebron, and the king wept aloud on his grave, and the people al wept too.
33 And the king lamented for Abner, saying, "Should Abner die as a fool dies?	33 The king made this lament over Abner: Should Abner have died as a brute dies?
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 tied, your feet not chained; you fel as a man falls at the hands of criminals. Andal the people wept for him louder than ever.
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 The people then al tried to persuade David to have some food while it was still daylight, but Davidswore this oath, 'May God bring unnameable il s on me, and worse il s, too, if I taste bread or anything whateveruntil the sun is down!'
36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as everything that the king did pleased all the people.	36 Al the people took note of this and it pleased them; indeed, everything the king did pleased thepeople.
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 That day, al the people and al Israel understood that the king had had no part in the murder of Abnerson 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 said to his retainers, 'Do you not realise that a prince, a great man, has fal en in Israel today?
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 I, though anointed king, am weak at present, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too strong forme. May Yahweh repay the criminal as his crime deserves!'