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1. There followed a long war between the house of Saul and that of David, in which David grew stronger, but the house of Saul weaker.
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1. Now there was H1961 long H752 war H4421 between H996 the house H1004 of Saul H7586 and the house H1004 of David H1732 : but David H1732 waxed stronger and stronger H1980 H2390 , and the house H1004 of Saul H7586 waxed H1980 weaker and weaker H1800 .
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2. Sons were born to David in Hebron: his first-born, Amnon, of Ahinoam from Jezreel;
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2. And unto David H1732 were sons H1121 born H3205 in Hebron H2275 : and his firstborn H1060 was H1961 Amnon H550 , of Ahinoam H293 the Jezreelitess H3159 ;
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3. the second, Chileab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom, son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;
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3. And his second H4932 , Chileab H3609 , of Abigail H26 the wife H802 of Nabal H5037 the Carmelite H3761 ; and the third H7992 , Absalom H53 the son H1121 of Maacah H4601 the daughter H1323 of Talmai H8526 king H4428 of Geshur H1650 ;
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4. the fourth, Adonijah, son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah, son of Abital;
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4. And the fourth H7243 , Adonijah H138 the son H1121 of Haggith H2294 ; and the fifth H2549 , Shephatiah H8203 the son H1121 of Abital H37 ;
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5. and the sixth, Ithream, of David's wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.
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5. And the sixth H8345 , Ithream H3507 , by Eglah H5698 David H1732 's wife H802 . These H428 were born H3205 to David H1732 in Hebron H2275 .
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6. During the war between the house of Saul and that of David, Abner was gaining power in the house of Saul.
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6. And it came to pass H1961 , while there was H1961 war H4421 between H996 the house H1004 of Saul H7586 and the house H1004 of David H1732 , that Abner H74 made himself strong H2388 for the house H1004 of Saul H7586 .
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7. Now Saul had had a concubine, Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbaal, son of Saul, said to Abner, "Why have you been intimate with my father's concubine?"
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7. And Saul H7586 had a concubine H6370 , whose name H8034 was Rizpah H7532 , the daughter H1323 of Aiah H345 : and Ish-bosheth said H559 to H413 Abner H74 , Wherefore H4069 hast thou gone H935 in unto H413 my father H1 's concubine H6370 ?
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8. Enraged at the words of Ishbaal, Abner said, "Am I a dog's head in Judah? At present I am doing a kindness to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers and his friends, by keeping you out of David's clutches; yet this day you charge me with a crime involving a woman!
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8. Then was Abner H74 very H3966 wroth H2734 for H5921 the words H1697 of Ish H378 -bosheth , and said H559 , Am I H595 a dog H3611 's head H7218 , which H834 against Judah H3063 do show H6213 kindness H2617 this day H3117 unto H5973 the house H1004 of Saul H7586 thy father H1 , to H413 his brethren H251 , and to H413 his friends H4828 , and have not H3808 delivered H4672 thee into the hand H3027 of David H1732 , that thou chargest H6485 H5921 me today H3117 with a fault H5771 concerning this woman H802 ?
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9. May God do thus and so to Abner if I do not carry out for David what the LORD swore to him--
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9. So H3541 do H6213 God H430 to Abner H74 , and more H3254 also H3541 , except H3588 , as H834 the LORD H3068 hath sworn H7650 to David H1732 , even H3588 so H3651 I do H6213 to him;
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10. that is, take away the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah from Dan to Beersheba."
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10. To translate H5674 the kingdom H4467 from the house H4480 H1004 of Saul H7586 , and to set up H6965 the H853 throne H3678 of David H1732 over H5921 Israel H3478 and over H5921 Judah H3063 , from Dan H4480 H1835 even to H5704 Beer H884 -sheba.
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11. In his fear of Abner, Ishbaal was no longer able to say a word to him.
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11. And he could H3201 not H3808 answer H7725 H853 Abner H74 a word H1697 again H5750 , because he feared H4480 H3372 him.
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12. Then Abner sent messengers to David in Telam, where he was at the moment, to say, "Make an agreement with me, and I will aid you by bringing all Israel over to you."
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12. And Abner H74 sent H7971 messengers H4397 to H413 David H1732 on his behalf H8478 , saying H559 , Whose H4310 is the land H776 ? saying H559 also , Make H3772 thy league H1285 with H854 me, and, behold H2009 , my hand H3027 shall be with H5973 thee , to bring about H5437 H853 all H3605 Israel H3478 unto H413 thee.
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13. He replied, "Very well, I will make an agreement with you. But one thing I require of you. You must not appear before me unless you bring back Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to present yourself to me."
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13. And he said H559 , Well H2896 ; I H589 will make H3772 a league H1285 with H854 thee: but H389 one H259 thing H1697 I H595 require H7592 of H4480 H854 thee , that is H559 , Thou shalt not H3808 see H7200 H853 my face H6440 , except H3588 H518 thou first H6440 bring H935 H853 Michal H4324 Saul H7586 's daughter H1323 , when thou comest H935 to see H7200 H853 my face H6440 .
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14. At the same time David sent messengers to Ishbaal, son of Saul, to say, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I espoused by paying a hundred Philistine foreskins."
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14. And David H1732 sent H7971 messengers H4397 to H413 Ish H378 -bosheth Saul H7586 's son H1121 , saying H559 , Deliver H5414 me H853 my wife H802 H853 Michal H4324 , which H834 I espoused H781 to me for a hundred H3967 foreskins H6190 of the Philistines H6430 .
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15. Ishbaal sent for her and took her away from her husband Paltiel, son of Laish,
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15. And Ish H378 -bosheth sent H7971 , and took H3947 her from H4480 H5973 her husband H376 , even from H4480 H5973 Phaltiel H6409 the son H1121 of Laish H3919 .
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16. who followed her weeping as far as Bahurim. But Abner said to him, "Go back!" And he turned back.
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16. And her husband H376 went H1980 with H854 her along H1980 weeping H1058 behind H310 her to H5704 Bahurim H980 . Then said H559 Abner H74 unto H413 him, Go H1980 , return H7725 . And he returned H7725 .
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17. Abner then said in discussion with the elders of Israel: "For a long time you have been seeking David as your king.
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17. And Abner H74 had H1961 communication H1697 with H5973 the elders H2205 of Israel H3478 , saying H559 , Ye sought H1961 H1245 for H853 David H1732 in times H1571 H8543 past H1571 H8032 to be king H4428 over H5921 you:
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18. Now take action, for the LORD has said of David, 'By my servant David I will save my people Israel from the grasp of the Philistines and from the grasp of all their enemies.'"
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18. Now H6258 then do H6213 it : for H3588 the LORD H3068 hath spoken H559 of H413 David H1732 , saying H559 , By the hand H3027 of my servant H5650 David H1732 I will save H3467 H853 my people H5971 Israel H3478 out of the hand H4480 H3027 of the Philistines H6430 , and out of the hand H4480 H3027 of all H3605 their enemies H341 .
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19. Abner also spoke personally to Benjamin, and then went to make his own report to David in Hebron concerning all that would be agreeable to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.
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19. And Abner H74 also H1571 spoke H1696 in the ears H241 of Benjamin H1144 : and Abner H74 went H1980 also H1571 to speak H1696 in the ears H241 of David H1732 in Hebron H2275 H853 all H3605 that H834 seemed good H2896 H5869 to Israel H3478 , and that seemed good H5869 to the whole H3605 house H1004 of Benjamin H1144 .
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20. When Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a feast for Abner and for the men who were with him.
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20. So Abner H74 came H935 to H413 David H1732 to Hebron H2275 , and twenty H6242 men H376 with H854 him . And David H1732 made H6213 Abner H74 and the men H376 that H834 were with H854 him a feast H4960 .
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21. Then Abner said to David, "I will now go to assemble all Israel for my lord the king, that they may make an agreement with you; you will then be king over all whom you wish to rule." So David bade Abner farewell, and he went away in peace.
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21. And Abner H74 said H559 unto H413 David H1732 , I will arise H6965 and go H1980 , and will gather H6908 H853 all H3605 Israel H3478 unto H413 my lord H113 the king H4428 , that they may make H3772 a league H1285 with H854 thee , and that thou mayest reign H4427 over all H3605 that H834 thine heart H5315 desireth H183 . And David H1732 sent H7971 H853 Abner H74 away ; and he went H1980 in peace H7965 .
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22. Just then David's servants and Joab were coming in from an expedition, bringing much plunder with them. Abner, having been dismissed by David, was no longer with him in Hebron but had gone his way in peace.
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22. And, behold H2009 , the servants H5650 of David H1732 and Joab H3097 came H935 from pursuing a troop H4480 H1416 , and brought H935 in a great H7227 spoil H7998 with H5973 them : but Abner H74 was not H369 with H5973 David H1732 in Hebron H2275 ; for H3588 he had sent him away H7971 , and he was gone H1980 in peace H7965 .
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23. When Joab and the whole force he had with him arrived, he was informed, "Abner, son of Ner, came to David; he has been sent on his way in peace."
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23. When Joab H3097 and all H3605 the host H6635 that H834 was with H854 him were come H935 , they told H5046 Joab H3097 , saying H559 , Abner H74 the son H1121 of Ner H5369 came H935 to H413 the king H4428 , and he hath sent him away H7971 , and he is gone H1980 in peace H7965 .
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24. So Joab went to the king and said: "What have you done? Abner came to you. Why did you let him go peacefully on his way?
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24. Then Joab H3097 came H935 to H413 the king H4428 , and said H559 , What H4100 hast thou done H6213 ? behold H2009 , Abner H74 came H935 unto H413 thee; why H4100 is it that thou hast sent him away H7971 , and he is quite gone H1980 ?
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25. Are you not aware that Abner came to deceive you and to learn the ins and outs of all that you are doing?"
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25. Thou knowest H3045 H853 Abner H74 the son H1121 of Ner H5369 , that H3588 he came H935 to deceive H6601 thee , and to know H3045 H853 thy going out H4161 and thy coming in H4126 , and to know H3045 H853 all H3605 that H834 thou H859 doest H6213 .
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26. Joab then left David, and without David's knowledge sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the cistern of Sirah.
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26. And when Joab H3097 was come out H3318 from H4480 H5973 David H1732 , he sent H7971 messengers H4397 after H310 Abner H74 , which brought him again H7725 H853 from the well H4480 H953 of Sirah H5626 : but David H1732 knew H3045 it not H3808 .
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27. When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside within the city gate as though to speak with him privately. There he stabbed him in the abdomen, and he died in revenge for the killing of Joab's brother Asahel.
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27. And when Abner H74 was returned H7725 to Hebron H2275 , Joab H3097 took him aside H5186 in H413 H8432 the gate H8179 to speak H1696 with H854 him quietly H7987 , and smote H5221 him there H8033 under the fifth H2570 rib , that he died H4191 , for the blood H1818 of Asahel H6214 his brother H251 .
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28. Later David heard of it and said: "Before the LORD; I and my kingdom are forever innocent.
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28. And afterward H4480 H310 H3651 when David H1732 heard H8085 it , he said H559 , I H595 and my kingdom H4467 are guiltless H5355 before H4480 H5973 the LORD H3068 forever H5704 H5769 from the blood H4480 H1818 of Abner H74 the son H1121 of Ner H5369 :
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29. May the full responsibility for the death of Abner, son of Ner, be laid to Joab and to all his family. May the men of Joab's family never be without one suffering from a discharge, or a leper, or one unmanly, one falling by the sword, or one in need of bread!"
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29. Let it rest H2342 on H5921 the head H7218 of Joab H3097 , and on H413 all H3605 his father H1 's house H1004 ; and let there not H408 fail H3772 from the house H4480 H1004 of Joab H3097 one that hath an issue H2100 , or that is a leper H6879 , or that leaneth H2388 on a staff H6418 , or that falleth H5307 on the sword H2719 , or that lacketh H2638 bread H3899 .
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30. (Joab and his brother Abishai had lain in wait for Abner because he killed their brother Asahel in battle at Gibeon.)
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30. So Joab H3097 and Abishai H52 his brother H251 slew H2026 Abner H74 , because H5921 H834 he had slain H4191 their brother H251 H853 Asahel H6214 at Gibeon H1391 in the battle H4421 .
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31. Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, "Rend your garments, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn over Abner." King David himself followed the bier.
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31. And David H1732 said H559 to H413 Joab H3097 , and to H413 all H3605 the people H5971 that H834 were with H854 him, Rend H7167 your clothes H899 , and gird H2296 you with sackcloth H8242 , and mourn H5594 before H6440 Abner H74 . And king H4428 David H1732 himself followed H310 the bier H4296 .
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32. When they had buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at the grave of Abner, and the people also wept.
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32. And they buried H6912 H853 Abner H74 in Hebron H2275 : and the king H4428 lifted up H5375 H853 his voice H6963 , and wept H1058 at H413 the grave H6913 of Abner H74 ; and all H3605 the people H5971 wept H1058 .
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33. And the king sang this elegy over Abner: "Would Abner have died like a fool?
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33. And the king H4428 lamented H6969 over H413 Abner H74 , and said H559 , Died H4191 Abner H74 as a fool H5036 dieth H4194 ?
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34. Your hands were not bound with chains, nor your feet placed in fetters; As men fall before the wicked, you fell." And all the people continued to weep for him.
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34. Thy hands H3027 were not H3808 bound H631 , nor H3808 thy feet H7272 put H5066 into fetters H5178 : as a man H1121 falleth H5307 before H6440 wicked H5766 men H1121 , so fellest H5307 thou . And all H3605 the people H5971 wept H1058 again H3254 over H5921 him.
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35. Then they went to console David with food while it was still day. But David swore, "May God do thus and so to me if I eat bread or anything else before sunset."
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35. And when all H3605 the people H5971 came H935 to cause H853 David H1732 to eat H1262 meat H3899 while it was yet H5750 day H3117 , David H1732 swore H7650 , saying H559 , So H3541 do H6213 God H430 to me , and more H3254 also H3541 , if H3588 H518 I taste H2938 bread H3899 , or H176 aught else H3605 H3972 , till H6440 the sun H8121 be down H935 .
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36. All the people noted this with approval, just as they were pleased with everything that the king did.
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36. And all H3605 the people H5971 took notice H5234 of it , and it pleased them H3190 H5869 : as whatsoever H3605 H834 the king H4428 did H6213 pleased H2895 H5869 all H3605 the people H5971 .
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37. So on that day all the people and all Israel came to know that the king had no part in the killing of Abner, son of Ner.
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37. For all H3605 the people H5971 and all H3605 Israel H3478 understood H3045 that H1931 day H3117 that H3588 it was H1961 not H3808 of the king H4480 H4428 to slay H4191 Abner H74 the son H1121 of Ner H5369 .
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38. The king then said to his servants: "You must recognize that a great general has fallen today in Israel.
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38. And the king H4428 said H559 unto H413 his servants H5650 , Know H3045 ye not H3808 that H3588 there is a prince H8269 and a great man H1419 fallen H5307 this H2088 day H3117 in Israel H3478 ?
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39. Although I am the anointed king, I am weak this day, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too ruthless for me. May the LORD requite the evildoer in accordance with his evil deed."
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39. And I H595 am this day H3117 weak H7390 , though anointed H4886 king H4428 ; and these H428 men H376 the sons H1121 of Zeruiah H6870 be too hard H7186 for H4480 me : the LORD H3068 shall reward H7999 the doer H6213 of evil H7451 according to his wickedness H7451 .
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