And the war was long between the house of Sha'ul and the house of David, and David was going and growing stronger, and the house of Sha'ul was going and growing weaker.

And sons were born to David in Hevron, and his firstborn was Amnon to Ahinoam the Yizre'elite.

And his second was Kil'av to Avigayil, wife of Naval the Karmelite, and the third Avshalom son of Ma'akah daughter of Talmay, king of Geshur.

And the fourth Adoniyah son of Haggit, and the fifth Shefatyah son of Avital.

And the sixth Yitream to Eglah, wife of David. These were born to David in Hevron.

And it happened, as the war was between the house of Sha'ul and the house of David, and Avner was strengthening himself in the house of Sha'ul.

And Sha'ul had a concubine, and her name was Ritzpah daughter of Ayah. And he said to Avner, 'Why did you come to my father's concubine?'

And Avner was very angry at the words of Ish-boshet, and he said, 'Am I a dog's head from Yehudah? Today I will show kindness to the house of Sha'ul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and I have not handed you over to the hand of David. And you have brought guilt upon me concerning this woman today.'

So may Elohim do to Avner, and so may He add to him, because as יהוה has sworn to David, so I will do to him.

To transfer the kingdom from the house of Sha'ul, and to establish the throne of David over Yisra'el and over Yehudah, from Dan even to Beer-Sheva.

And Ish-boshet could no longer answer Avner a word, because he feared him.

And Avner sent messengers to David, saying, 'Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand is with you to turn all Yisra'el to you.'

And he said, 'Good. I will make a covenant with you. Only one thing I ask of you, saying, You shall not see my face unless you first bring Mikhal daughter of Sha'ul when you come to see my face.'

And David sent messengers to Ish-boshet, son of Sha'ul, saying, 'Give me my wife Mikhal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred foreskins of the Pelishtim.'

And Ish-boshet sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel son of Layish.

And her husband went with her, weeping as he went after her as far as Bahurim. And Avner said to him, 'Go, return.' And he returned.

And Avner's word was with the elders of Yisra'el, saying, 'Both yesterday and the day before, you were seeking David to be king over you.'

'And now, do it, because יהוה has said to David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Yisra'el from the hand of the Pelishtim and from the hand of all their enemies.'

And Avner also spoke in the ears of Binyamin, and Avner also went to speak in the ears of David in Hevron, all that was good in the eyes of Yisra'el and in the eyes of all the house of Binyamin.

And Avner came to David in Hevron, and with him twenty men. And David made a feast for Avner and for the men who were with him.

And Avner said to David, 'I will arise and go and gather all Yisra'el to my Adonai the king, and they will make a covenant with you, and you will reign over all that your soul desires.' And David sent Avner away, and he went in peace.

And behold, the servants of David and Yo'av came from the raiding party, and they brought much plunder with them. And Avner was not with David in Hevron, because he had sent him away, and he went in peace.

And Yo'av and all the army that was with him came. And they told Yo'av, saying, 'Avner son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he went in peace.'

And Yo'av came to the king and said, 'What have you done? Behold, Avner came to you. Why did you send him away, and he went off?'

'You know Avner son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.'

And Yo'av went out from David, and he sent messengers after Avner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. And David did not know.

And Avner returned to Hevron, and Yo'av turned him aside into the gateway to speak with him in secret, and he struck him there in the fifth rib, and he died from the blood of Asa'el his brother.

And David heard afterward, and he said, 'I am innocent, and my kingdom is from יהוה forever, from the blood of Avner son of Ner.'

May it fall upon the head of Yo'av and upon all his father's house, and may there not be cut off from the house of Yo'av a one with a discharge, or a leper, or one who holds a spindle, or one who falls by the sword, or one who lacks bread.

And Yo'av and Avishai his brother killed Avner, because he had killed Asa'el their brother in Giv'on in the battle.

And David said to Yo'av and to all the people who were with him, 'Tear your clothes, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Avner.' And King David followed the bier.

And they buried Avner in Hevron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Avner, and all the people wept.

And the king lamented over Avner and said, 'Did Avner die as a fool dies?'

'Your hands were not bound, and your feet were not put into bronze fetters. As one falls before the sons of wickedness, so you have fallen.' And all the people wept again for him.

And all the people came to comfort David with bread, while it was still day. But David swore, saying, 'So may Elohim do to me, and so may He add, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets.'

And all the people recognized, and it was good in their eyes. Whatever the king did was good in the eyes of all the people.

And all the people and all Yisra'el knew on that day that it was not from the king to kill Avner son of Ner.

And the king said to his servants, 'Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Yisra'el?'

'And I today am weak, and anointed king. And these men, the sons of Zeru'yah, are too harsh for me. May יהוה repay the doer of evil according to his evil.'