August 24, 2019

2 SAMUEL 3:11-27

3:11 And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

3:12 And Abner sent messengers to David where he was, saying, To whom shall the land belong? and saying, Make your covenant with me; and then my hand will be with you, to turn all Israel to you.

3:13 And David said, Fine, I will make a covenant with you; but I require one thing of you, namely, you shall not see my face, unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.

3:14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul’s son, saying, Deliver my wife Michal to me, whom I espoused for a hundred Philistine foreskins.

3:15 And Ish-bosheth sent men and had her taken from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish.

3:16 And her husband went along with her to Bahurim, walking and weeping after her. But Abner said to him, Go; return. And he returned.

3:17 Now Abner had conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, For some time now you have been seeking for David to be king over you.

3:18 So do it now, for Jehovah has spoken of David, saying, By 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.

3:19 And Abner also spoke 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.

3:20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David held a feast for Abner and for the men who were with him.

3:21 And Abner said to David, I will rise up and go and 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 soul desires. And David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

3:22 And there came the servants of David and Joab from an attack, and they brought great spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

3:23 And when Joab and all the army that was with him came, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner has come to the king; and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace.

3:24 Then Joab went to the king and said, What have you done? Abner has just come to you. Why is it that you have sent him away and he has gone?

3:25 You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, to discover your going out and your coming in, and to know everything that you do.

3:26 And when Joab went out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah, though David did not know about it.

3:27 And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately. And there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died for the bloodshed of Asahel his brother.