1
Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David grew steadily stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker continually.
!yeb.W l.Wa'vt07586 tyeBt01004 !yeB h'KUr]a h'm'x.liM;ht04421 yih.T;w ? l.Wa'vt07586 tyeb.Wt01004 qez'x.wt02390 .$el{ht01980 diw'd.wt01732 diw'Dt01732 tyeBt01004 ? ~yiL;d.wt01800 ~yik.l{h
2
Sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
w{rw{k.bt02275 yih.y;w !w{r.b,x.B ~yin'B diw'd.lt01732 .Wd.leY;wt03205 ? tilae[.r.ziY;ht03159 ~;[{nyix]a;lt0293 !w{n.m;at0550
3
and his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;
yil.m.r;K;ht03761 l'b'nt05037 t,vea legyib]a;lt026 b'a.likt03609 .When.vim.Wt04932 ? y;m.l;Tt08526 -t;Bt01323 h'k][;mt04601 -n,B ~w{l'v.b;at053 yivil.V;h.w ? r.Wv.Gt01650 .$,l,mt04428
4
and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
yivyim]x;h.wt02549 tyiG;xt02294 -n,b h'Yin{d]at0138 yi[yib.r'h.wt07243 ? l'jyib]at037 -n,b h'y.j;p.vt08203
5
and the sixth, Ithream, by David's wife Eglah. These were born to David at Hebron.
.Wd.LUyt03205 h,Lea diw'Dt01732 t,vea h'l.g,[.lt05698 ~'[.r.tIyt03507 yiViV;h.wt08345 ? !w{r.b,x.Bt02275 diw'd.lt01732
6
It came about while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David that Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.
l.Wa'vt07586 tyeBt01004 !yeB h'm'x.liM;ht04421 tw{y.hiB yih.y;w ? tyeb.Bt01004 qeZ;x.timt02388 h'y'h ren.b;a.w diw'Dt01732 tyeBt01004 !yeb.W ? l.Wa'vt07586
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?"
r,ma{Y;wt0559 h'Y;at0345 -t;bt01323 h'P.cirt07532 H'm.v.W v,g,liPt06370 l.Wa'v.l.Wt07586 ? yib'at01 v,g,lyiPt06370 -l,a h'ta'B ;[.WD;m ren.b;a -l,a
8
Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, "Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hands of David; and yet today you charge me with a guilt concerning the woman.
t,v{B -vyia yer.biDt01697 -l;[ d{a.mt03966 ren.b;a.lt01 r;xiY;w ? h'd.Whyilt03063 r,v]at07218 yik{n'a b,l,Kt03611 va{r]h r,ma{Y;wt0559 ? '$yib'a l.Wa'vt07586 tyeBt01004 -mi[ d,s,xt02617 -h,f/[,a ~w{Y;ht03117 ? '$ityic.mih a{l.w .Whe[eremt04828 -l,a.w wy'x,at0251 -l,a ? ~w{Y;ht03117 h'Via'ht0802 !{w][ y;l'[ d{q.piT;wt06485 diw'Dt01732 -d;y.Bt03027
9
"May God do so to Abner, and more also, if as the LORD has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for him,
@yis{y h{k.wt03254 ren.b;a.l ~yih{l/a h,f][;yt0430 -h{Kt06213 ? w{L -h,f/[,a !ek -yiK diw'd.l h'wh.yt01732 [;B.vint03068 r,v]a;Kt07650 yiK w{l
10
to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba."
~yiq'h.l.W l.Wa'vt07586 tyeBimt01004 h'k'l.m;M;ht04467 ryib][;h.l ? h'd.Wh.yt03063 -l;[.w lea'r.fIyt03478 -l;[ diw'dt01732 aeSiKt03678 -t,a ? [;b'v rea.Bt0884 -d;[.w !'Dim
11
And he could no longer answer Abner a word, because he was afraid of him.
r'b'Dt01697 ren.b;at074 -t,a byiv'h.l dw{[ l{k'yt03201 -a{l.w ? w{t{a w{t'a.riYimt03372
12
Then Abner sent messengers to David in his place, saying, "Whose is the land? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you."
diw'D -l,at01732 ~yik'a.l;m ren.b;a x;l.viY;wt074 t07971 ? '$.tyir.b h't.r'Kt01285 r{maelt03772 #,r'at0559 -yim.lt0776 r{mael w{t;x;Tt0559 ? lea'r.fIyt03478 -l'K -t,a '$y,lea bes'h.l .$'Mi[ yid'yt03027 heNih.w yiTia
13
He said, "Good! I will make a covenant with you, but I demand one thing of you, namely, you shall not see my face unless * you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see me."
.$;a tyir.Bt01285 '$.Tia t{r.k,at03772 yin]a bw{j r,ma{Y;wt0559 ? h,a.ritt07200 -a{l r{maelt0559 '$.Tiaem lea{vt07592 yik{n'a d'x,at0259 r'b'Dt01697 ? l;kyimt04324 tea '$]ayib/h yen.pilt06440 -mia yiK y;n'P -t,a ? y'n'P -t,a tw{a.ril '$]a{b.Bt0935 l.Wa'vt07586 -t;Bt01323
14
So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, "Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines."
l.Wa'vt07586 -n,B t,v{B -vyia -l,a ~yik'a.l;m diw'Dt01732 x;l.viY;wt07971 ? r,v]at0781 l;kyimt04324 -t,a yiT.viat06430 -t,a h'n.T r{maelt0559 ? ~yiT.vil.P tw{l.r'[ h'aem.Bt03967 yil yiT.f;rea
15
Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish.
~i[em vyiat0376 ~i[em 'h,x'QiY;wt03947 t,v{B vyia x;l.viY;wt07971 ? viw'lt03889 -n,B leayij.l;Pt06409
16
But her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go, return." So he returned.
~yirUx;Bt0980 -d;[ 'hy,r]x;at0310 h{k'b.Wt01058 .$w{l'h H'vyiat0376 H'Tia .$,leY;w ? b{v'Y;w b.Wvt07725 .$el ren.b;a wy'lea r,ma{Y;wt0559
17
Now Abner had consultation with the elders of Israel, saying, "In times * past you were seeking for David to be king over you.
r{maelt0559 lea'r.fIyt03478 yen.qiz -mi[ h'y'ht01961 ren.b;at074 -r;b.d.Wt01697 ? ~yiv.q;b.mt01245 ~,tyIy/h ~{v.livt08032 -m;G lw{m.Tt08543 -m;G ? ~,kyel][ .$,l,m.lt04428 diw'Dt01732 -t,a
18
"Now then, do it! For the LORD has spoken of 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.' "
r{maelt0559 diw'Dt01732 -l,a r;m'at0559 h'wh.yt03068 yiK .Wf][ h'T;[.w ? lea'r.fIyt03478 yiM;[ -t,a ;[yivw{h yiD.b;[t05650 diw'Dt01732 d;y.Bt03027 ? ~,hyeb.y{at0341 -l'K d;Yim.Wt03027 ~yiT.vil.Pt06430 d;Yimt03027
19
Abner also spoke in the hearing of Benjamin; and in addition Abner went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.
.$,leY;w !yim'y.nibt01144 yen.z'a.B ren.b;at074 -m;G reB;d.y;wt01696 ? !w{r.b,x.Bt02275 diw'dt01732 yen.z'a.B reB;d.lt01696 ren.b;at074 -m;G ? yenye[.b.W lea'r.fIyt03478 yenye[.Bt01144 bw{j -r,v]a -l'K tea ? !im'y.niB tyeBt01004 -l'K
20
Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.
~yir.f,[t06242 w{Tia.w !w{r.b,xt02275 diw'Dt01732 -l,a ren.b;at074 a{b'Y;wt074 ? w{Tia -r,v]a ~yiv'n]a;l.w ren.b;a.l diw'Dt01732 f;[;Y;w ~yiv'n]at0582 ? h,T.vimt04960
21
Abner said to David, "Let me arise and go and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may be king over all that your soul desires." So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
h'kelea.w h'm.Wq'a diw'Dt01732 -l,a ren.b;at074 r,ma{Y;wt0559 ? lea'r.fIyt03478 -l'K -t,a .$,l,M;ht04428 yin{d]at074 -l,a h'c.B.q,a.w ? h/W;a.T -r,v]a l{k.B 'T.k;l'm.W tyir.Bt01285 '$.Tia .Wt.r.kIy.wt03772 ? ~w{l'v.Bt07965 .$,leY;w ren.b;a -t,a diw'Dt01732 x;L;v.Y;wt07971 '$,v.p;nt05315
22
And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much spoil with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.
l'l'v.wt07998 d.Wd.G;hemt01732 a'B b'aw{y.wt03097 diw'dt01732 yed.b;[t05650 heNih.w ? diw'Dt0935 -mi[ .WN,nyeat074 ren.b;a.w .Wayibeh ~'Mi[ b'rt07227 ? ~w{l'v.Bt07965 .$,leY;w w{x.Livt07971 yiK !w{r.b,x.Bt02275
23
When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, they told Joab, saying, "Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace."
.WdiG;Y;w .Wa'Bt03097 w{Tia -r,v]a a'b'C;ht06635 -l'k.w b'aw{y.wt03097 ? .$,l,M;ht04428 -l,a rent05369 -n,B ren.b;a -a'B r{maelt0559 b'aw{y.lt0935 ? ~w{l'v.Bt07965 .$,leY;w .Whex.L;v.y;wt07971
24
Then Joab came to the king and said, "What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why then have you sent him away and he is already gone?
h'tyif'[ h,m r,ma{Y;wt0559 .$,l,M;ht04428 -l,a b'aw{yt03097 a{b'Y;wt074 ? w{T.x;Livt07971 h,Z -h'M'l '$y,lea ren.b;a a'b -heNih ? .$w{l'h .$,leY;w
25
"You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you and to learn of your going out and coming in and to find out all that you are doing."
a'B '$.t{T;p.lt06601 yiK rent05369 -n,B ren.b;at074 -t,a 'T.[;d'y ? t;[;d'l.w '$,aw{bimt01121 -t,a.w '$]a'cw{mt04161 -t,a t;[;d'l.w ? h,f{[ h'T;a r,v]a -l'K tea
26
When Joab came out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know it.
~yik'a.l;m x;l.viY;wt07971 diw'Dt01732 ~i[em b'aw{yt03097 aeceY;wt03318 ? diw'd.wt01732 h'riS;ht05626 rw{Bimt0953 w{t{a .Wbiv'Y;wt07725 ren.b;a yer]x;at0310 ? ['d'y a{l
27
So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the belly so that he died on account of the blood of Asahel his brother.
.$w{Tt08432 -l,at0413 b'aw{yt03097 .WheJ;Y;w !w{r.b,xt02275 ren.b;at074 b'v'Y;w ? v,m{x;ht02570 ~'v .WheK;Y;w yil,V;Bt07987 w{Tia reB;D.lt01696 r;[;V;ht08179 ? wyix'at0251 lea -h'f][ ~;d.Bt01818 t'm'Y;w
28
Afterward when David heard it, he said, "I and my kingdom are innocent before * the LORD forever * of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
yik{n'a yiq'nt05355 r,ma{Y;wt0559 !ek yer]x;aemt0310 diw'Dt01732 [;m.viY;wt08085 ? yem.Dim ~'lw{[t05769 -d;[t05704 h'wh.yt03068 ~i[em yiT.k;l.m;m.W ? rent05369 -n,B ren.b;a
29
"May it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father's house; and may there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who takes hold of a distaff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread."
wyib'at01 tyeBt01004 -l'K l,a.w b'aw{yt03097 va{rt07218 -l;[ .WlUx'yt02342 ? qyiz]x;m.W ['r{c.m.Wt06879 b'z b'aw{yt03097 tyeBimt01004 ter'KIyt03772 -l;a.w ? ~,x'lt03899 -r;s]x;wt02638 b,r,x;Bt02719 lep{n.wt05307 .$,l,P;Bt06418
30
So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner because * he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.
l;[ ren.b;a.lt074 .Wg.r'ht02026 wyix'at0251 y;vyib]a;wt052 b'aw{y.wt03097 ? !w{[.big.Bt01391 ~,hyix]at0251 leah'f][ -t,a tyimeh r,v]a ? h'm'x.liM;Bt04421
31
Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes and gird on sackcloth and lament before Abner." And King David walked behind the bier.
~'['ht05971 -l'K -l,a.w b'aw{yt03097 -l,a diw'Dt01732 r,ma{Y;wt0559 ? ~yiQ;f .Wr.gix.wt02296 ~,kyed.gibt0899 .W[.riqt07167 w{Tia -r,v]a ? yer]x;at0310 .$el{ht01980 diw'Dt01732 .$,l,M;h.wt04428 ren.b;a yen.pilt06440 .Wd.pis.wt05594 ? h'JiM;ht04296
32
Thus they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.
.$,l,M;ht04428 ]a'FIy;w !w{r.b,x.Bt02275 ren.b;at074 -t,a .Wr.B.qiY;wt06912 ? .WK.biY;w ren.b;at074 r,b,qt06913 -l,a .K.beY;w w{lw{qt06963 -t,a ? ~'['ht05971 -l'K
33
The king chanted a lament for Abner and said, "Should Abner die as a fool dies?
tw{m.K;ht04191 r;ma{Y;wt0559 ren.b;at074 -l,a .$,l,M;ht04428 !en{q.y;w ? ren.b;a t.Wm'yt04194 l'b'nt05036
34
"Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put in fetters; As one falls before the wicked *, you have fallen." And all the people wept again over him.
~Iy;T.vUx.nilt05178 -a{l '$y,l.g;r.wt07272 tw{rUs]at0631 -a{l '$,d'yt03027 ? 'T.l'p'nt05307 h'l.w;[t05766 -yen.b yen.pilt06440 lw{p.niK .Wv'GUh ? wy'l'[ tw{K.bil ~'['ht05971 -l'k .Wpis{Y;w
35
Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was still day; but David vowed, saying, "May God do so to me, and more also, if * I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down."
~,x,lt03899 diw'Dt01732 -t,a tw{r.b;h.l ~'['ht05971 -l'kt03605 a{b'Y;w ? yiL -h,f][;yt06213 h{K r{maelt0559 diw'Dt01732 [;b'ViY;wt07650 ~w{Y;ht03117 dw{[.Bt05750 ? v,m,V;ht08121 -aw{bt0935 yen.pilt06440 -mia yiK @yis{y h{k.w ~yih{l/at0430 ? h'm.Wa.mt03972 -l'k w{a ~,x,lt03899 -m;[.j,a
36
Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased * them, just as everything * the king did pleased * all the people.
l{k.K ~,hyenye[.B b;jyiY;wt03190 .WryiKih ~'['ht05971 -l'k.w ? bw{j ~'['ht05971 -l'k yenye[.B .$,l,M;ht04428 h'f'[ r,v]a
37
So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the will of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death.
a.Wh;h ~w{Y;Bt03117 lea'r.fIyt03478 -l'k.w ~'['ht05971 -l'k .W[.deY;w ? ren.b;at05369 -t,a tyim'h.l .$,l,M;hemt04428 h't.y'h a{l yiK ? ren -n,B
38
Then the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?
.W[.det aw{l]h wy'd'b][t05650 -l,a .$,l,M;ht04428 r,ma{Y;wt0559 ? lea'r.fIy.Bt03478 h,Z;h ~w{Y;ht03117 l;p'nt05307 lw{d'g.w r;f -yiK
39
"I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too difficult for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil."
~yiv'n]a'h.w .$,l,mt04428 ;x.Wv'm.W .$;rt07390 ~w{Y;ht03117 yik{n'a.w ? h'wh.yt03068 ~eL;v.yt07999 yiN,Mim ~yiv'q h'y.Wr.ct06870 yen.B h,Lea'h ? w{t'['r.Kt07451 h'['r'h hef{[.l