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The Long War and the Defection of Abner
Now there was long war between the house of Shaul and the house of Dawid: but Dawid waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Shaul waxed weaker and weaker.
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2 Shamu'al 3
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The Sons of Dawid Born in Chabrun
And unto Dawid were sons born in Chabrun: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Yizreelitess;
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And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Abshalum the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
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And the fourth, Adunijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
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And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah Dawid's wife. These were born to Dawid in Chabrun.
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The Usurpation of Rizpah
And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Shaul and the house of Dawid, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Shaul.
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And Shaul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, "Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?"
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The Wrath of Abner
Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, "Am I a dog's head, which against Yahudah do show kindness this day unto the house of Shaul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of Dawid, that thou chargest me today with a fault concerning this woman?"
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"So do Alahiym to Abner, and more also, except, as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 hath sworn to Dawid, even so I do to him;"
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"To translate the kingdom from the house of Shaul, and to set up the throne of Dawid over Yashar'al and over Yahudah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba."
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And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.
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The League with the Scepter
And Abner sent messengers to Dawid on his behalf, saying, "Whose is the land?" saying also, "Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Yashar'al unto thee."
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And he said, "Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Shaul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face."
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The Reclamation of Michal
And Dawid sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Shaul's son, saying, "Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines."
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And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.
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And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, "Go, return." And he returned.
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The Persuasion of the Tribes
And Abner had communication with the elders of Yashar'al, saying, "Ye sought for Dawid in times past to be king over you:"
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"Now then do it: for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 hath spoken of Dawid, saying, By the hand of my servant Dawid I will save my people Yashar'al out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies."
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And Abner also spake in the ears of Binyamiyn: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of Dawid in Chabrun all that seemed good to Yashar'al, and that seemed good to the whole house of Binyamiyn.
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The Feast at Chabrun
So Abner came to Dawid to Chabrun, and twenty men with him. And Dawid made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.
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And Abner said unto Dawid, "I will arise and go, and will gather all Yashar'al unto my adun the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth." And Dawid sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
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The Wrath of Yoab
And, behold, the servants of Dawid and Yoab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with Dawid in Chabrun; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
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When Yoab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Yoab, saying, "Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace."
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Then Yoab came to the king, and said, "What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?"
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"Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest."
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The Assassination at the Gate
And when Yoab was come out from Dawid, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but Dawid knew it not.
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And when Abner was returned to Chabrun, Yoab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
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The Judicial Clearance of the Crown
And afterward when Dawid heard it, he said, "I and my kingdom are guiltless before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:"
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The Curse on the House of Yoab
"Let it rest on the head of Yoab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Yoab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread."
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So Yoab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
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The Public Mourning of the King
And Dawid said to Yoab, and to all the people that were with him, "Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner." And king Dawid himself followed the bier.
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And they buried Abner in Chabrun: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
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The Lamentation for Abner
And the king lamented over Abner, and said, "Died Abner as a fool dieth?"
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"Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou." And all the people wept again over him.
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The Fast of Dawid
And when all the people came to cause Dawid to eat meat while it was yet day, Dawid swore, saying, "So do Alahiym to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down."
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And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.
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For all Yashar'al and all the people understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.
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The Burden of the Sons of Zeruiah
And the king said unto his servants, "Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Yashar'al?"
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"And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness."