押尼珥之死
1扫罗和大卫两家长期争战，大卫家的势力越来越强，扫罗家却日益衰微。
2大卫在希伯仑生的儿子有耶斯列人亚希暖所生的长子暗嫩， 3迦密人拿八的遗孀亚比该所生的次子基利押，基述王达买的女儿玛迦所生的三子押沙龙， 4哈及所生的四子亚多尼雅，亚比她所生的五子示法提雅， 5大卫的妻子以格拉所生的六子以特念。大卫的这些儿子都是在希伯仑生的。
6在扫罗和大卫两家争战期间，押尼珥在扫罗家权势日增。 7他跟扫罗的一个妃嫔、艾押的女儿利斯巴通奸，伊施波设问他：“你为什么跟我父亲的妃嫔一起睡觉呢？” 8押尼珥听了非常愤怒，说：“难道我是犹大的走狗吗？我这样厚待你父亲扫罗家和他的亲人朋友，没有把你交给大卫，今天你竟为了一个女人来责备我！ 9-10倘若我不照着耶和华应许大卫的誓言把扫罗的江山夺过来交给大卫，让他统治全以色列和犹大，从但到别示巴，愿耶和华重重地惩罚我！”
11伊施波设一句话也不敢答，因为他害怕押尼珥。
12押尼珥派使者送信给大卫，说：“这个国家难道不是你的吗？如果你与我立约，我必帮助你统一以色列。” 13大卫回答说：“好，但你一定要把扫罗的女儿米甲带来才能见我。” 14于是，大卫派使者去见扫罗的儿子伊施波设说：“请把我的妻子米甲送回来，因为她是我用一百个非利士人的包皮作聘礼娶来的。” 15伊施波设就派人把米甲从她丈夫——拉亿的儿子帕铁那里接回来。 16帕铁一路跟着米甲，边走边哭，一直到巴户琳。押尼珥对他说：“你回去吧！”他就回去了。
17押尼珥和以色列的长老商量说：“你们以前一直都希望大卫做你们的王， 18现在是时候了，因为耶和华曾说要借着祂仆人大卫的手，从非利士人和其他敌人手中拯救祂的以色列子民。” 19押尼珥也跟便雅悯人商谈，然后到希伯仑把以色列人和便雅悯人的愿望告诉大卫。 20当时，他带了二十个人前往希伯仑见大卫，大卫就设宴款待他们。 21押尼珥对大卫说：“我要为我主我王招聚所有的以色列人，跟你立约，你便可以如愿以偿，统治全以色列。”于是大卫为他送行，他就平安地回去了。
22大卫送押尼珥离开后不久，约押就率领大卫的军队带着许多战利品凯旋而归。 23约押率领全军回来后，有人告诉他：“尼珥的儿子押尼珥刚才来朝见王，王送他平安地离去了。” 24约押听后，就去见王，说：“你这做的是什么事？押尼珥来见你，你为什么放他走呢？ 25你要知道，尼珥的儿子押尼珥想来骗你，探听你的虚实。”
26约押从大卫那里出来，派人去追押尼珥，他们在西拉井追上了他，把他带了回来。大卫对这件事一无所知。 27押尼珥回到希伯仑的时候，约押就把他带到城门的瓮洞，装作与他密谈，乘机用短剑刺入他的肚子，把他杀死了，为他兄弟亚撒黑报了仇。 28大卫听到消息就说：“耶和华作证，我和我的人民永远跟尼珥的儿子押尼珥的死无关。 29约押和他全家要承担这罪，愿他的后代永远有长疮的、患皮肤病的、拄拐杖的、被刀剑所杀的或挨饿的。” 30约押和他兄弟亚比筛之所以杀押尼珥，是因为押尼珥在基遍杀了他们的兄弟亚撒黑。
31大卫对约押和部下说：“你们要撕裂衣服，腰束麻布，在押尼珥棺前哭丧！”大卫王也跟在棺后送葬。 32他们就把押尼珥葬在希伯仑。大卫王和众人在墓旁大哭一场。 33大卫王哀悼押尼珥，说：
“押尼珥啊！
你怎能死得糊里糊涂3:33 “糊里糊涂”希伯来文是“像愚笨人”。呢？
34你的手没有被捆，
你的脚没有被锁，
你是死在阴险小人的手里啊！”
于是众人都为押尼珥哀哭。 35大卫整天没有进食，众人来劝他吃一点东西，但他起誓说：“我若在日落以前吃任何东西，愿上帝重重地惩罚我！” 36众人听见了，都很喜悦，王做的每一件事都令他们喜悦。 37那天全国的人都看出尼珥的儿子押尼珥的死与大卫无关。 38大卫王对他的随从说：“你们难道不知道今天以色列损失了一位伟大的将领吗？ 39今天我虽然是耶和华所膏立的王，但仍势单力薄，无法对付洗鲁雅的两个儿子，愿耶和华报应他们的恶行。”
1Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
2¶ And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;3.3 Chileab: or, Daniel 4And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
6¶ And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.
7And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father’s concubine? 8Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog’s head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman? 9So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; 10To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba. 11And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.
12¶ And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
13¶ And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face.3.13 that is: Heb. saying 14And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines. 15And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.3.15 Phaltiel: also called, Phalti 16And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.3.16 along…: Heb. going and weeping
17¶ And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:3.17 in times…: Heb. both yesterday and the third day 18Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies. 19And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin. 20So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast. 21And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
22¶ And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. 23When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace. 24Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone? 25Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest. 26And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. 27And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.3.27 quietly: or, peaceably
28¶ And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:3.28 blood: Heb. bloods 29Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.3.29 fail: Heb. be cut off 30So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
31¶ And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.3.31 bier: Heb. bed 32And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. 33And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? 34Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.3.34 wicked…: Heb. children of iniquity 35And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down. 36And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.3.36 pleased them: Heb. was good in their eyes 37For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner. 38And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? 39And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.3.39 weak: Heb. tender
