David

And David sendeth messengers unto the men of Jabesh-Gilead, and saith unto them, `Blessed are ye of Jehovah, in that ye have done this kindness with your lord, with Saul, that ye bury him.

A son of forty years, is Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, in his reigning over Israel, and two years he hath reigned, only the house of Judah have been after David.

And the number of the days that David hath been king in Hebron, over the house of Judah, is seven years and six months.

And Joab son of Zeruiah, and servants of David, have gone out, and they meet by the pool of Gibeon together, and sit down, these by the pool on this side , and these by the pool on that.

And they rise and pass over, in number twelve of Benjamin, even of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

and the battle is very hard on that day, and Abner is smitten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

And Joab hath turned back from after Abner, and gathereth all the people, and there are lacking of the servants of David nineteen men, and Asahel;

and the servants of David have smitten of Benjamin, even among the men of Abner, three hundred and sixty men--they died.

And the war is long between the house of Saul and the house of David, and David is going on and is strong, and the house of Saul are going on and are weak.

And there are born to David sons in Hebron, and his first-born is Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess,

and the sixth is Ithream, of Eglah wife of David; these have been born to David in Hebron.

And it cometh to pass, in the war being between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner hath been strengthening himself in the house of Saul,

And it is displeasing to Abner exceedingly, because of the words of Ish-Bosheth, and he saith, `The head of a dog am I--that in reference to Judah to-day I do kindness with the house of Saul thy father, unto his brethren, and unto his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David--that thou chargest against me iniquity concerning the woman to-day?

thus doth God to Abner, and thus He doth add to him, surely as Jehovah hath sworn to David--surely so I do to him:

to cause the kingdom to pass over from the house of Saul, and to raise up the throne of David over Israel, and over Judah, from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba.'

And Abner sendeth messengers unto David for himself, saying, `Whose is the land?' saying, `Make thy covenant with me, and lo, my hand is with thee, to bring round unto thee all Israel.'

And David sendeth messengers unto Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, saying, `Give up my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself with a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.'

And the word of Abner was with the elders of Israel, saying, `Heretofore ye have been seeking David for king over you,

and now, do it , for Jehovah hath spoken of David saying, By the hand of David my servant--to save My people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.'

And Abner speaketh also in the ears of Benjamin, and Abner goeth also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that is good in the eyes of Israel, and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin,

and Abner cometh in unto David, to Hebron, and with him twenty men, and David maketh for Abner, and for the men who are with him, a banquet.

And Abner saith unto David, `I arise, and go, and gather unto my lord the king the whole of Israel, and they make with thee a covenant, and thou hast reigned over all that thy soul desireth;' and David sendeth away Abner, and he goeth in peace.

And lo, the servants of David, and Joab, have come from the troop, and much spoil have brought with them, and Abner is not with David in Hebron, for he hath sent him away, and he goeth in peace;

And Joab goeth out from David, and sendeth messengers after Abner, and they bring him back from the well of Sirah, and David knew not.

And David heareth afterwards and saith, `Acquitted am I, and my kingdom, by Jehovah, unto the age, from the blood of Abner son of Ner;