between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David went and increased; and the house of Saul went and decreased.

And children were born unto David in Hebron: his firstborn son Amnon of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

the other: Chileab of Abigail, Nabal’s wife, the Carmelite; the third: Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

The fourth Adonijah the son of Hagith; the fifth: Saphatiah the son of Abital; 5. The sixth, Jethream of Egla, David’s wife. These were born unto David in Hebron.

And it came to pass, when there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner strengthened the house of Saul.

And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbosheth said unto Abner, Why layest thou with my father’s concubine?

And Abner was very wroth at these words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I then a dog’s head, that I do mercy against Judah to the house of Saul thy father, and to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into David’s hand? And thou reckonest iniquity unto me this day for a woman?

God do unto Abner this, and that, if I do not do as the LORD David sware, 10. That the kingdom might be taken from the house of Saul, and that the throne of David might be established over Israel and over Judah from Dan even to Beersheba.

And again he could not answer him a word, for he was afraid.

And Abner sent messengers unto David for himself, saying, Whose land is this? And he said, Make thy covenant with me: behold, my hand shall be with thee, that I may return unto thee all Israel.

And he said, Well, I will make a covenant with thee. But this I pray thee, that thou see not my face; but bring thou first to me Michal Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

And David sent messengers unto Ishbosheth the son of Saul, saying, Give me Michal my wife, whom I have entrusted to me with an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

And Ishbosheth sent, and took them of the man Partiell the son of Lai.

And her husband went with her, and wept behind her unto Bahurim. And Abner said unto him, Return, and go. And he returned.

And Abner spake unto the elders of Israel, saying: Ye were long ago desirous of David, that he should reign over you.

Now therefore do it: for the LORD said of David, I will deliver my people Israel by the hand of David my servant out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

And Abner spake in the ears of Benjamin, and went to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that was good in Israel, and in all the house of Benjamin.

And it came to pass, when Abner was come to David to Hebron, and with him twenty men, that David made them a feast.

And Abner said unto David, I will arise, and go, and gather all Israel unto my lord the king, and they shall make a covenant with thee, that thou mayest be king, as thy soul desireth. So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from the men of war, bringing with them a great spoil. Now Abner was not with David in Hebron, but had sent him away, that he might go in peace.

And it came to pass, when Joab and all the host were come with him, that it was told him that Abner the son of Ner was come to the king, and that he had sent him away in peace.

And Joab went in unto the king, and said, What hast thou done? Behold, Abner is come unto thee: why hast thou sent him away from thee, that he is departed?
25! Knowest thou not Abner the son of Ner? For he is come to persuade thee, that he may know thy going out, and thy coming in, and know all that thou doest.

And when Joab was gone out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, to fetch him again from Borhazira: and David knew it not.

And it came to pass, when Abner was come again to Hebron, that Joab brought him into the midst of the gate to speak unto him privily, and there he smote him in the belly, and he died, because of the blood of Asahel his brother.

And it came to pass afterward, when David heard it, that he said, I am guiltless, and my kingdom before the LORD for ever, because of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.

And it shall fall upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father’s house; and it shall not cease in the house of Joab, which hath a flow of pus, and leprosy, and walketh by the staff, and falleth by the sword, and lacketh bread.

So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he slew Asahel their brother in the battle at Gibeon.

And David said unto Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird sackcloth about you, and bear grief for Abner. And the king went after the coffin.

And when they buried Abner in Hebron, the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the sepulchre of Abner; and all the people wept also.

And the king bewailed Abner, saying, Abner died not, as a fool dieth.

Thy hands are not bound, neither are thy feet put in fetters: thou art fallen, as one falleth before wicked men. Then all the people wept for him still more.

And it came to pass, when all the people were come in to eat with David, while it was yet high day, that David sware, saying, God do this to me, and that, where I taste bread, or any thing, before the sun go down.

And all the people knew it, and all the good things that the king did pleased them in the sight of all the people.

And all the people and all Israel perceived that day that it was not of the king that Abner the
son of Ner was slain.

And the king said unto his servants: Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

But I am yet tender, and an anointed king. But the men, the children of Zeruiah, are grievous unto me. The LORD reward him that doeth evil according to his wickedness.
(2 Samuel)
Chapter 4
Isboseth is murdered and smelled by David.

And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were loosed, and all Israel were afraid.

And there were two men captains over the warriors among the sons of Saul; the name of the one was Baena, and the name of the other Rechob, sons of Rimon the Berothite, of the children of Benjamin. For Beroth also was reckoned among Benjamin. – ·

And the Berothites fled to Gethaim, and were strangers there unto this day.

And Jonathan the son of Saul had a son that was lame of his feet: and he was five years old when the cry of Saul and Jonathan came out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and as she hasted and fled, he fell, and went lame: and his name was Mephibosheth.

So the sons of Rimon the Berothite, Rechob and Baena, went, and came to the house of Ishbosheth, when the day was hottest; and he lay in his bed at noon.

And they came into the house to take wheat: and they pricked him in the stomach, and escaped.

For when they were come into the house, he lay upon his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him dead, and cut off his head, and took his head, and went by the way of the plain all night.

And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said unto the king, Behold, the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, thine enemy, which strove after thy soul: the LORD hath smelled my lord the king this day upon Saul, and upon his seed.

And David said unto them, As the LORD liveth, he hath delivered my soul out of all my affliction,

And I took him that told me, saying, Saul is dead, thinking that he was a good messenger: and I slew him in Ziklag, to whom I should give a messenger’s fee.

And these wicked men slew a righteous man in his house upon his bed. Yea, shall I not require the blood of your hands, and do you out of the earth?

And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up by the pool of Hebron. And they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in Abner’s sepulchre at Hebron.
(2 Samuel)
Chapter 5
David’s second anointing, happy state, and twofold victory.

And all the tribes of Israel came to David to Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

And also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou leddest out and broughtest in Israel.
Thus hath the LORD said unto thee, Thou shalt shepherd my people Israel, and shalt be a duke over Israel.

And all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron. And king David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.

David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

In Hebron he reigned seven years and six