Bible Verses About Ish-Bosheth: Deserted by Abner

During the war that was going on between the house of Sha'ul and the house of David, Avner strengthened his position in the house of Sha'ul.

Sha'ul had had a concubine named Ritzpah, the daughter of Ayah; and [Ish-Boshet] challenged Avner: "Why did you go and sleep with my father's concubine?"

These words of Ish-Boshet's enraged Avner. "What am I," he shouted, "[that you treat me with such contempt]? A dog's head in Y'hudah? Till this moment I have shown only kindness to the house of Sha'ul your father, and to his brothers and to his friends; and I haven't handed you over to David. Yet you choose today to pick a fight with me over this woman!

May God bring terrible curses on Avner and worse ones yet if I don't accomplish what ADONAI swore to David-

to transfer the kingdom from the house of Sha'ul and set up the throne of David over Isra'el and Y'hudah, from Dan all the way to Be'er-Sheva!"

Ish-Boshet couldn't answer Avner a word, because he was afraid of him.

Avner immediately sent envoys to David with this message: "Who is going to control the land? If you make yourself my ally, I will use my power to bring all Isra'el over to you."