Now there was a long war between Saul’s house and David’s house. David grew stronger and stronger, but Saul’s house grew weaker and weaker. 1Ki 14:302Sa 2:17Job 8:7Pro 4:18-19Eph 6:12Job 17:9Psa 84:71Ki 15:16 Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 1Ch 3:1-41Sa 25:42-432Sa 13:1-29Gen 49:3-4 and 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; 1Sa 27:81Ch 3:11Sa 25:31Sa 25:422Sa 13:20-282Sa 13:37-382Sa 2:2Deu 3:14 and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 1Ki 1:5-181Ki 2:13-25 and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
While there was war between Saul’s house and David’s house, Abner made himself strong in Saul’s house. 2Sa 2:8-92Ch 25:82Ki 10:23Isa 8:9-10Jol 3:9-13Mat 12:30Pro 21:30 Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” 2Sa 21:8-111Ki 2:171Ki 2:21-222Sa 12:82Sa 16:21-22
Then Abner was very angry about Ishbosheth’s words, and said, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to your father Saul’s house, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman! 2Sa 9:82Sa 16:91Sa 15:281Sa 24:14-152Ki 8:132Sa 3:182Sa 3:92Sa 5:2 God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as the LORD has sworn to David, I don’t do even so to him: 1Sa 15:281Ki 19:21Ch 12:231Sa 28:17Rut 1:171Sa 14:441Sa 16:1-131Sa 25:22 to transfer the kingdom from Saul’s house, and to set up David’s throne over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.” 1Sa 3:20Jdg 20:11Ki 4:252Sa 17:112Sa 24:2
He could not answer Abner another word, because he was afraid of him.
Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “Whose is the land?” and saying, “Make your alliance with me, and behold, my hand will be with you to bring all Israel around to you.” 1Ch 12:38-401Ch 11:1-32Sa 19:142Sa 19:412Sa 19:62Sa 3:212Sa 3:272Sa 5:1-3
David said, “Good. I will make a treaty with you, but one thing I require of you. That is, you will not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.” Gen 43:31Ch 15:291Sa 18:20-281Sa 19:11-172Sa 3:20-23Gen 44:23Gen 44:26 David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I was given to marry for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 1Sa 18:271Sa 18:252Sa 2:10
Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, Paltiel the son of Laish. 1Sa 25:44 Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go! Return!” and he returned. 2Sa 16:52Sa 19:161Ki 2:82Sa 17:18Pro 9:17-18
Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past, you sought for David to be king over you. 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 out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.’” 1Sa 15:28Psa 89:19-231Sa 9:16Psa 89:3-41Sa 13:141Sa 16:11Sa 16:12-132Sa 3:9
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 to the whole house of Benjamin. 1Ch 12:291Sa 10:20-21Psa 68:27 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast. Est 1:3Gen 26:30Gen 31:54 Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and will 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.” David sent Abner away; and he went in peace. 1Ki 11:372Sa 3:122Sa 3:102Sa 2:9Php 2:21Psa 20:4
Behold, David’s servants and Joab came from a raid and brought in a great plunder with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. When Joab and all the army who was with him had come, they told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace.”
Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, and he is already gone? 2Sa 19:5-72Sa 3:392Sa 3:8Jhn 18:35Num 23:11 You know Abner the son of Ner. He came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do.” Deu 28:6Isa 37:28Num 27:171Sa 29:4-62Ki 18:322Sa 10:32Sa 3:27Gen 42:12
When Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David didn’t know it. Pro 26:23-26Pro 27:4-6 When Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the body, so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother. 1Ki 2:52Sa 20:9-101Ki 2:32Deu 27:242Sa 2:19-23Jer 41:2Jer 41:6-7 Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. Num 35:33Deu 21:1-9Exo 21:12Gen 4:10Gen 9:6Mat 27:24 Let it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.” 2Sa 1:16Psa 109:8-191Ki 2:31-341Sa 2:32-362Ki 5:12Ki 5:27Act 28:4Jdg 9:24 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 2Sa 2:19-23Act 28:4Pro 28:17
David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn in front of Abner.” King David followed the bier. Gen 37:342Sa 1:112Sa 1:2Jdg 11:35Jos 7:62Ki 19:1Gen 37:29Luk 7:14 They buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at Abner’s grave; and all the people wept. Pro 24:17Job 31:281Sa 30:42Sa 1:122Sa 18:33Luk 19:41-42 The king lamented for Abner, and said, “Should Abner die as a fool dies? 2Ch 35:252Sa 1:172Sa 13:12-13Luk 12:19-20Ecc 2:15-16Jer 17:11Pro 18:72Sa 13:28-29 Your hands weren’t bound, and your feet weren’t put into fetters. As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so you fell.” 2Sa 1:12Hos 6:9Jdg 16:21Job 24:14Psa 107:10-11
All the people wept again over him. All the people came to urge David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else, until the sun goes down.” 2Sa 1:122Sa 12:17Jer 16:7Rut 1:17Ezk 24:17Jdg 20:261Sa 3:172Sa 3:9
All the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as whatever the king did pleased all the people. Mrk 7:372Sa 15:6Mrk 15:11-13Psa 62:92Sa 15:13 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner. The king said to his servants, “Don’t you know that a prince and a great man has fallen today in Israel? Job 32:91Sa 14:50-512Sa 2:82Sa 3:12 I am weak today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May the LORD reward the evildoer according to his wickedness.” Psa 28:4Psa 101:81Ki 2:33-34Pro 25:5Psa 62:121Ki 2:5-62Ch 19:6-72Ti 4:14