The Reign of David

Now while Joab and Abisai pursued after Abner, the sun went down: and they came as far as the hill of the aqueduct, that lieth over against the valley by the way of the wilderness in Gabaon.

And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together to Abner: and being joined in one body, they stood on the top of a hill.

And Abner cried out to Joab, and said: Shall thy sword rage unto utter destruction? knowest thou not that it is dangerous to drive people to despair? how long dost thou defer to bid the people cease from pursuing after their brethren?

And Joab said: As the Lord liveth, if thou hadst spoke sooner, even in the morning the people should have retired from pursuing after their brethren.

Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and all the army stood still, and did not pursue after Israel any farther, nor fight any more.

And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plains: and they passed the Jordan, and having gone through all Beth-horon, came to the camp.

And Joab returning, after he had left Abner, assembled all the people: and there were wanting of David's servants nineteen men, beside Asael.

But the servants of David had killed of Benjamin, and of the men that were with Abner, three hundred and sixty, who all died.

And they took Asael, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father in Bethlehem and Joab, and the men that were with him, marched all the night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: David prospering and growing always stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul decaying daily.

And sons were born to David in Hebron: and his firstborn was Ammon of Achinoam the Jezrahelitess:

And his second Cheleab of Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel: and the third Absalom the son of Maacha the daughter of Tholmai king of Gessur:

And the fourth Adonias, the son of Haggith: and the fifth Saphathia the son of Abital:

And the sixth Jethraam of Egla the wife of David: these were born to David In Hebron.

Now while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner the son of Ner ruled the house of Saul.

And Saul had a concubine named Respha, the daughter of Aia. And Isboseth said to Abner:

Why didst thou go in to my father's concubine? And he was exceedingly angry for the words of Isboseth, and said: Am I a dog's head against Juda this day, who have shewn mercy to the house of Saul thy father, and to his brethren and friends, and have not delivered thee into the hands of David, and hast thou sought this day against me to charge me with a matter concerning a woman?

So do God to Abner, and more also, unless as the Lord hath sworn to David, so I do to him,

That the kingdom be translated from the house of Saul, and the throne of David be set up over Israel, and over Juda from Dan to Bersabee.

And he could not answer him a word, because he feared him.

Abner therefore sent messengers to David for himself, saying: Whose is the land? and that they should say: Make a league with me, and my hand shall be with thee: and I will bring all Israel to thee.

And he said: Very well: I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, saying: Thou shalt not see my face before thou bring Michol the daughter of Saul: and so thou shalt come, and see me.

And David sent messengers to Isboseth the son of Saul, saying: Restore my wife Michol, whom I espoused to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

And Isboseth sent, and took her from her husband Phaltiel, the son of Lais.

And her husband followed her, weeping as far as Bahurim: and Abner said to him: Go and return. And he returned.