1The war between Saul’s royal house and David’s royal house lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger. But the royal house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
2Sons were born to David in Hebron.
His first son was Amnon. Amnon’s mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel.
3His second son was Kileab. Kileab’s mother was Abigail. She was Nabal’s widow from Carmel.
The third son was Absalom. His mother was Maakah. She was the daughter of Talmai, the king of Geshur.
4The fourth son was Adonijah. His mother was Haggith.
The fifth son was Shephatiah. His mother was Abital.
5The sixth son was Ithream. His mother was David’s wife Eglah.
Those sons were born to David in Hebron.
Abner Goes Over to David’s Side
6The fighting continued between David’s royal house and Saul’s royal house. Abner gained more and more power in the royal house of Saul. 7While Saul was still alive, he had a concubine named Rizpah. She was the daughter of Aiah. Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”
8Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. So Abner answered, “Do you think I’m only a dog’s head? Am I on Judah’s side? To this day I’ve been faithful to the royal house of your father Saul. I’ve been faithful to his family and friends. I haven’t handed you over to David. But now you claim that I’ve sinned with this woman! 9I will do for David what the Lord promised him. If I don’t, may God punish me greatly. 10I’ll take the kingdom away from Saul’s royal house. I’ll set up the throne of David’s kingdom over Israel and Judah. He will rule from Dan all the way to Beersheba.” 11Ish-Bosheth didn’t dare to say another word to Abner. He was much too afraid of him.
12Then Abner sent messengers to David to speak for him. They said, “Who will rule over this land? Make a covenant with me. Then I’ll help you bring all the Israelites over to your side.”
13“Good,” said David. “I will make a covenant with you. But there’s one thing I want you to do. Bring Saul’s daughter Michal to me. Don’t come to see me unless she’s with you.” 14Then David sent messengers to Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth. He ordered them to say, “Give me my wife Michal. She was promised to me. I paid for her the price that was demanded. I paid for her with the skins of 100 circumcised Philistines.”
15So Ish-Bosheth gave the order. He sent men who took Michal away from her husband Paltiel. Paltiel was the son of Laish. 16But her husband followed her to Bahurim. He was crying all the way. Then Abner said to him, “Go back home!” So he did.
17Abner talked with the elders of Israel. He said, “For some time you have wanted to make David your king. 18Now do it! The Lord made a promise to David. He said, ‘I will rescue my people Israel from the power of the Philistines. I will also rescue them from all their enemies. I will rescue them through my servant David.’ ”
19Abner also spoke to the people of Benjamin in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything. He told him what Israel and all the people of Benjamin wanted to do. 20Abner had 20 men with him. They came to David at Hebron. So David prepared a feast for Abner and his men. 21Then Abner said to David, “Let me go right now. I’ll gather together all the Israelites for you. After all, you are now my king and master. The people can make a covenant with you. Then you can rule over everyone you want to.” So David sent Abner away. And he went in peace.
Joab Murders Abner
22Just then David’s men and Joab came back from attacking their enemies. They brought with them the large amount of goods they had taken. But Abner wasn’t with David in Hebron anymore. That’s because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23Joab and all the soldiers with him arrived. Then he was told that Abner, the son of Ner, had come to see the king. He was told that the king had sent Abner away. He was also told that Abner had gone in peace.
24So Joab went to the king. He said, “What have you done? Abner came to you. Why did you let him get away? Now he’s gone! 25You know what Abner, the son of Ner, is like. He came to trick you. He wanted to watch your every move. He came to find out everything you are doing.”
26Then Joab left David. He sent messengers to get Abner. They brought Abner back from the well of Sirah. But David didn’t know about it. 27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him to one side. He brought him into an inside room. Joab acted as if he wanted to speak to him in private. But he really wanted to get even with him. That’s because Abner had spilled the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel. So Joab stabbed Abner in the stomach, and he died.
28Later on, David heard about it. He said, “I and the people of my kingdom aren’t guilty of spilling the blood of Abner, the son of Ner. We are free of blame forever in the sight of the Lord. 29May Joab and his whole family line be held accountable for spilling Abner’s blood! May Joab’s family never be without someone who has an open sore or skin disease. May his family never be without someone who has to use a crutch to walk. May his family never be without someone who gets killed by a sword. And may his family never be without someone who doesn’t have enough to eat.”
30Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner. They did it because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.
31David spoke to Joab and all the people with him. He said, “Tear your clothes. Put on the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. Mourn when you walk in front of Abner’s body.” King David himself walked behind it. 32Abner’s body was buried in Hebron. The king wept out loud at Abner’s tomb. So did the rest of the people.
33King David sang a song of sadness over Abner. He said,
“Should Abner have died as sinful people do?
34His hands were not tied.
His feet were not chained.
He died as if he had been killed by evil people.”
All the people mourned over Abner again.
35Then all of them came and begged David to eat something. They wanted him to eat while it was still day. But David made a promise. He said, “I won’t taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down. If I do, may God punish me greatly!”
36All the people heard his promise and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them. 37So on that day all the people there and all the Israelites understood. They knew that the king didn’t have anything to do with the murder of Abner, the son of Ner.
38The king spoke to his men. He said, “Don’t you realize that a great commander has died in Israel today? 39I’m the anointed king. But today I’m weak. These sons of Zeruiah are too powerful for me. May the Lord pay back the one who killed Abner! May he pay him back for the evil thing he has done!”
Abneri àti Iṣboṣeti jà
1Ogun náà sì pẹ́ títí láàrín ìdílé Saulu àti ìdílé Dafidi: agbára Dafidi sì ń pọ̀ sí i, ṣùgbọ́n ìdílé Saulu ń rẹ̀yìn sí i.
23.2-5: 1Ki 3.1-4.Dafidi sì bí ọmọkùnrin ní Hebroni:
Amnoni ni àkọ́bí rẹ̀ tí Ahinoamu ará Jesreeli bí fún un.
3Èkejì rẹ̀ sì ni Kileabu, tí Abigaili aya Nabali ará Karmeli bí fún un;
ẹ̀kẹta sì ni Absalomu ọmọ tí Maaka ọmọbìnrin Talmai ọba Geṣuri bí fún un.
4Ẹ̀kẹrin sì ni Adonijah ọmọ Haggiti;
àti ẹ̀karùnún ni Ṣefatia ọmọ Abitali;
5Ẹ̀kẹfà sì ni Itreamu, tí Egla aya Dafidi bí fún un.
Wọ̀nyí ni a bí fún Dafidi ni Hebroni.
6Ó sì ṣe, nígbà tí ogun wà láàrín ìdílé Saulu àti ìdílé Dafidi, Abneri sì dì alágbára ní ìdílé Saulu. 7Saulu ti ní àlè kan, orúkọ rẹ̀ sì ń jẹ́ Rispa, ọmọbìnrin Aiah: Iṣboṣeti sì bi Abneri léèrè pé, “Èéṣe tí ìwọ fi wọlé tọ àlè baba mi lọ.”
8Abneri sì bínú gidigidi nítorí ọ̀rọ̀ wọ̀nyí ti Iṣboṣeti sọ fún un, ó sì wí pé, “Èmi jẹ́ bí orí ajá ti Juda bí? Di òní yìí ni mo ṣàánú fún ìdílé Saulu baba rẹ, àti fún àwọn arákùnrin rẹ̀, àti fún àwọn ọ̀rẹ́ rẹ̀, tí èmi kò sì fi ọ́ lé Dafidi lọ́wọ́, ìwọ sì kà ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ sí mí lọ́rùn nítorí obìnrin yìí lónìí? 9Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni kí Ọlọ́run ó ṣe Abneri, àti jù bẹ́ẹ̀ lọ pẹ̀lú, bí Olúwa ti búra fún Dafidi, bí èmi kò ní ṣe bẹ́ẹ̀ fún un. 10Láti mú ìjọba náà kúrò ní ìdílé Saulu, àti láti gbé ìtẹ́ Dafidi kalẹ̀ lórí Israẹli, àti lórí Juda, láti Dani títí ó fi dé Beerṣeba.” 11Òun kò sì lè dá Abneri lóhùn kan nítorí tí ó bẹ̀rù rẹ̀.
12Abneri sì rán àwọn oníṣẹ́ sí Dafidi nítorí rẹ̀ wí pé, “Ti ta ni ilẹ̀ náà ń ṣe? Bá mi ṣe àdéhùn, èmi yóò si kó gbogbo Israẹli tọ̀ ọ́ wá.”
13Òun sì wí pé, “Ó dára, èmi ó bá ọ ṣe àdéhùn: ṣùgbọ́n ohun kan ni èmi ó béèrè lọ́wọ́ rẹ, èyí ni pé, ìwọ kì yóò rí ojú mi, àfi bí ìwọ bá kọ́ mú Mikali ọmọbìnrin Saulu wá, nígbà tí ìwọ bá wá, láti rí ojú mi.” 14Dafidi sì rán àwọn ìránṣẹ́ sí Iṣboṣeti ọmọ Saulu pé, “Fi Mikali obìnrin mi lé mi lọ́wọ́, ẹni tí èmi ti fi ọgọ́ọ̀rún awọ iwájú orí àwọn Filistini fẹ́.”
15Iṣboṣeti sì ránṣẹ́, ó sì gbà á lọ́wọ́ ọkùnrin tí a ń pè ní Paltieli ọmọ Laiṣi. 16Ọkọ rẹ̀ sì ń bà a lọ, ó ń rìn, ó sì ń sọkún lẹ́yìn rẹ̀ títí ó fi dé Bahurimu Abneri sì wí fún un pé, “Padà sẹ́yìn!” Òun sì padà.
Abneri wá kí Dafidi ní Hebroni
17Abneri sì bá àwọn àgbàgbà Israẹli sọ̀rọ̀ pé, “Ẹ̀yin ti ń ṣe àfẹ́rí Dafidi ní ìgbà àtijọ́, láti jẹ ọba lórí yín. 18Ǹjẹ́, ẹ ṣe: nítorí tí Olúwa ti sọ fún Dafidi pé, ‘Láti ọwọ́ Dafidi ìránṣẹ́ mi lé mi ó gba Israẹli ènìyàn mi là kúrò lọ́wọ́ àwọn Filistini àti lọ́wọ́ gbogbo àwọn ọ̀tá a wọn.’ ”
19Abneri sì sọ̀rọ̀ létí Benjamini: Abneri sì lọ sọ létí Dafidi ní Hebroni, gbogbo èyí tí ó dára lójú Israẹli, àti lójú gbogbo ilé Benjamini. 20Abneri sì tọ Dafidi wá ní Hebroni, ogún ọmọkùnrin sì lọ pẹ̀lú rẹ̀ Dafidi sì ṣe àsè fún Abneri àti fún àwọn ọmọkùnrin tí ó wà pẹ̀lú rẹ̀. 21Abneri sì wí fún Dafidi pé, “Èmi ó dìde, èmi ó sì lọ, èmi ó sì kó gbogbo Israẹli jọ sọ́dọ̀ ọba olúwa mi, wọn ó sì bá a ṣe àdéhùn, ìwọ ó sì jẹ ọba gbogbo wọn bí ọkàn rẹ ti ń fẹ́.” Dafidi sì rán Abneri lọ; òun sì lọ ní àlàáfíà.
Joabu gbọ́ nípa wíwá Abneri sí Hebroni
22Sì wò ó, àwọn ìránṣẹ́ Dafidi àti Joabu sì ti ibi ìlépa ẹgbẹ́ ogun kan bọ̀, wọ́n sì mú ìkógun púpọ̀ bọ̀; ṣùgbọ́n Abneri kò sí lọ́dọ̀ Dafidi ní Hebroni; nítorí tí òun ti rán an lọ: òun sì ti lọ ní Àlàáfíà. 23Nígbà tí Joabu àti gbogbo ogun tí ó pẹ̀lú rẹ̀ sì dé, wọ́n sì sọ fún Joabu pé Abneri, ọmọ Neri ti tọ ọba wá, òun sì ti rán an lọ, ó sì ti lọ ní àlàáfíà.
24Joabu sì tọ ọba wá, ó sì sọ pé, “Kí ni ìwọ ṣe yìí? Wò ó, Abneri tọ̀ ọ́ wá; èéha ti ṣe tí ìwọ sì fi rán an lọ? Òun sì ti lọ. 25Ìwọ mọ Abneri ọmọ Neri, pé ó wá láti tàn ọ́ jẹ ni, àti láti mọ ìjáde lọ rẹ, àti wíwọlé rẹ́ àti láti mọ gbogbo èyí tí ìwọ ń ṣe.”
Joabu pa Abneri
26Nígbà tí Joabu sì jáde kúrò lọ́dọ̀ Dafidi, ó sì rán àwọn ìránṣẹ́ láti lépa Abneri, wọ́n sì pè é padà láti ibi kànga Sira: Dafidi kò sì mọ̀. 27Abneri sì padà sí Hebroni, Joabu sì bá a tẹ̀ láàrín ojú ọ̀nà láti bá a sọ̀rọ̀ ní àlàáfíà, ó sì gún un níbẹ̀ lábẹ́ inú, ó sì kú, nítorí ẹ̀jẹ̀ Asaheli arákùnrin rẹ̀.
28Lẹ́yìn ìgbà tí Dafidi sì gbọ́ ọ ó sì wí pé, “Èmi àti ìjọba mi sì jẹ́ aláìlẹ́bi níwájú Olúwa títí láé ní ti ẹ̀jẹ̀ Abneri ọmọ Neri: 29Jẹ́ kí ó wà ní orí Joabu, àti ní orí gbogbo ìdílé baba rẹ̀; kí a má sì fẹ́ ẹni ó tí ní ààrùn ìsun, tàbí adẹ́tẹ̀, tàbí ẹni tí ń tẹ ọ̀pá, tàbí ẹni tí a ó fi idà pa, tàbí ẹni tí ó ṣe aláìní oúnjẹ kù ní ilé Joabu.”
30(Joabu àti Abiṣai arákùnrin rẹ̀ sì pa Abneri, nítorí pé òun ti pa Asaheli arákùnrin wọn ní Gibeoni ní ogun.)
31Dafidi sì wí fún Joabu àti fún gbogbo ènìyàn tí ń bẹ lọ́dọ̀ rẹ̀ pé, “Ẹ fa aṣọ yín ya, kí ẹ̀yin sì mú aṣọ ọ̀fọ̀, kí ẹ̀yin sì sọkún níwájú Abneri.” Dafidi ọba tìkára rẹ̀ sì tẹ̀lé pósí rẹ̀. 32Wọ́n sì sin Abneri ní Hebroni: ọba sì gbé ohùn rẹ̀ sókè, ó sì sọkún ní ibojì Abneri; gbogbo àwọn ènìyàn náà sì sọkún.
33Ọba sì sọkún lórí Abneri, ó sì wí pé:
“Ǹjẹ́ Abneri ó yẹ kí ó kú bí aṣiwèrè?
34A kò sá à dè ọ́ lọ́wọ́,
bẹ́ẹ̀ ni a kò kan ẹsẹ̀ rẹ ní àbà.
Gẹ́gẹ́ bí ènìyàn tí ń ṣubú níwájú àwọn ìkà ènìyàn, bẹ́ẹ̀ ni ìwọ ṣubú.”
Gbogbo àwọn ènìyàn náà sì tún sọkún lórí rẹ̀.
35Nígbà tí gbogbo ènìyàn sì wá láti gba Dafidi ní ìyànjú kí ó jẹun, nígbà tí ọjọ́ sì ń bẹ, Dafidi sì búra wí pé, “Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni kí Ọlọ́run ó ṣe sí mi àti jù bẹ́ẹ̀ lọ, bí èmi yóò bá tọ́ oúnjẹ wò, tàbí nǹkan mìíràn títí oòrùn yóò fi wọ̀!”
36Gbogbo àwọn ènìyàn sì kíyèsi i, ó sì dára lójú wọn: gbogbo èyí tí ọba ṣe sì dára lójú gbogbo àwọn ènìyàn náà. 37Gbogbo àwọn ènìyàn náà àti gbogbo Israẹli sì mọ̀ lọ́jọ́ náà pé, kì í ṣe ìfẹ́ ọba láti pa Abneri ọmọ Neri.
38Ọba sì wí fún àwọn ìránṣẹ́ rẹ̀ pé, “Ẹ̀yin kò mọ̀ pé olórí àti ẹni ńlá kan ni ó ṣubú lónìí ní Israẹli. 39Èmi sì ṣe aláìlágbára lónìí, bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé a fi èmi jẹ ọba; àwọn ọkùnrin wọ̀nyí ọmọ Seruiah sì le jù mí lọ: Olúwa ni yóò san án fún ẹni tí ó ṣe ibi gẹ́gẹ́ bí ìwà búburú rẹ̀!”
