Abner Joins David

¹There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.

²vAnd sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of wAhinoam of Jezreel; ³and his second, Chileab, of wAbigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah xthe daughter of Talmai king of yGeshur; ⁴and the fourth, zAdonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; ⁵and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

⁶While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. ⁷Now Saul had a concubine whose name was aRizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, b“Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?” ⁸Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “Am I ca dog's head of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman. ⁹dGod do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David ewhat the Lord has sworn to him, ¹⁰to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, ffrom Dan to Beersheba.” ¹¹And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

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