The Reign of David

And Joab and Abishai pursue after Abner, and the sun hath gone in, and they have come in unto the height of Ammah, which is on the front of Giah, the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

And the sons of Benjamin gather themselves together after Abner, and become one troop, and stand on the top of a certain height,

and Abner calleth unto Joab, and saith, `For ever doth the sword consume? hast thou not known that it is bitterness in the latter end? and till when dost thou not say to the people to turn back from after their brethren?'

And Joab saith, `God liveth! for unless thou hadst spoken, surely then from the morning had the people gone up each from after his brother.'

And Joab bloweth with a trumpet, and all the people stand still, and pursue no more after Israel, nor have they added any more to fight.

And Abner and his men have gone through the plain all that night, and pass over the Jordan, and go on through all Bithron, and come in to Mahanaim.

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 they lift up Asahel, and bury him in the burying-place of his father, which is in Beth-Lehem, and they go all the night--Joab and his men--and it is light to them in Hebron.

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 his second is Chileab, of Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelite, and the third is Absalom son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur,

and the fourth is Adonijah son of Haggith, and the fifth is Shephatiah son of Abital,

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 Saul hath a concubine, and her name is Rizpah daughter of Aiah, and Ish-Bosheth saith unto Abner, `Wherefore hast thou gone in unto the concubine of my father?'

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 he is not able any more to turn back Abner a word, because of his fearing him.

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 he saith, `Good--I make with thee a covenant; only, one thing I am asking of thee, that is, Thou dost not see my face, except thou dost first bring in Michal, daughter of Saul in thy coming into see my face.'

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 Ish-Bosheth sendeth, and taketh her from a man, from Phaltiel son of Laish,

and her husband goeth with her, going on and weeping behind her, unto Bahurim, and Abner saith unto him, `Go, turn back;' and he turneth back.