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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>2 Samuel 3 GNT</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/2_samuel/3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/2_samuel/3-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">GNT</a> > 2 Samuel 3</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../2_samuel/2.htm" title="2 Samuel 2">◄</a> 2 Samuel 3 <a href="../2_samuel/4.htm" title="2 Samuel 4">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Good News Translation</div><div class="chap"><p class="par"><span class="v10_3_1"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.1" class="v10_3_1">1</span>The fighting between the forces supporting Saul's family and those supporting David went on for a long time. As David became stronger and stronger, his opponents became weaker and weaker.</span></p><h3 class="s">David's Sons</h3><p class="par"><span class="v10_3_2"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.2" class="v10_3_2">2</span>The following six sons, in order of their birth, were born to David at Hebron: Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam, from Jezreel; </span><span class="v10_3_3"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.3" class="v10_3_3">3</span>Chileab, whose mother was Abigail, Nabal's widow, from Carmel; Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; </span><span class="v10_3_4"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.4" class="v10_3_4">4</span>Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith; Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital; </span><span class="v10_3_5"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.5" class="v10_3_5">5</span>Ithream, whose mother was Eglah. All of these sons were born in Hebron.</span></p><h3 class="s">Abner Joins David</h3><p class="par"><span class="v10_3_6"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.6" class="v10_3_6">6</span>As the fighting continued between David's forces and the forces loyal to Saul's family, Abner became more and more powerful among Saul's followers.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_3_7"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.7" class="v10_3_7">7</span>One day Ishbosheth son of Saul accused Abner of sleeping with Saul's concubine Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. </span><span class="v10_3_8"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.8" class="v10_3_8">8</span>This made Abner furious. “Do you think that I would betray Saul? Do you really think I'm serving Judah?” he exclaimed. “From the very first I have been loyal to the cause of your father Saul, his brothers, and his friends, and I have kept you from being defeated by David; yet today you find fault with me about a woman! </span><span class="v10_3_9"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.9-2Sam.3.10" class="v10_3_9">9-10</span><a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.3.9-2Sam.3.10!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> The <span class="nd">Lord</span> promised David that he would take the kingdom away from Saul and his descendants and would make David king of both Israel and Judah, from one end of the country to the other. Now may God strike me dead if I don't make this come true!” </span><span class="v10_3_11"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.11" class="v10_3_11">11</span>Ishbosheth was so afraid of Abner that he could not say a word.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_3_12"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.12" class="v10_3_12">12</span>Abner sent messengers to David, who at that time was at Hebron,<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.3.12!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> to say, “Who is going to rule this land? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you win all Israel over to your side.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_3_13"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.13" class="v10_3_13">13</span>“Good!” David answered. “I will make an agreement with you on one condition: you must bring Saul's daughter Michal to me when you come to see me.” </span><span class="v10_3_14"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.14" class="v10_3_14">14</span><a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.3.14!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> And David also sent messengers to Ishbosheth to say, “Give me back my wife Michal. I paid a hundred Philistine foreskins in order to marry her.” </span><span class="v10_3_15"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.15" class="v10_3_15">15</span>So Ishbosheth had her taken from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. </span><span class="v10_3_16"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.16" class="v10_3_16">16</span>Paltiel followed her all the way to the town of Bahurim, crying as he went. But when Abner said, “Go back home,” he did.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_3_17"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.17" class="v10_3_17">17</span>Abner went to the leaders of Israel and said to them, “For a long time you have wanted David to be your king. </span><span class="v10_3_18"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.18" class="v10_3_18">18</span>Now here is your chance. Remember that the <span class="nd">Lord</span> has said, ‘I will use my servant David to rescue my people Israel from the Philistines and from all their other enemies.’” </span><span class="v10_3_19"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.19" class="v10_3_19">19</span>Abner spoke also to the people of the tribe of Benjamin and then went to Hebron to tell David what the people of Benjamin and of Israel had agreed to do.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_3_20"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.20" class="v10_3_20">20</span>When Abner came to David at Hebron with twenty men, David gave a feast for them. </span><span class="v10_3_21"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.21" class="v10_3_21">21</span>Abner told David, “I will go now and win all Israel over to Your Majesty. They will accept you as king, and then you will get what you have wanted and will rule over the whole land.” David gave Abner a guarantee of safety and sent him on his way.</span></p><h3 class="s">Abner Is Murdered</h3><p class="par"><span class="v10_3_22"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.22" class="v10_3_22">22</span>Later on Joab and David's other officials returned from a raid, bringing a large amount of loot with them. Abner, however, was no longer there at Hebron with David, because David had sent him away with a guarantee of safety. </span><span class="v10_3_23"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.23" class="v10_3_23">23</span>When Joab and his men arrived, he was told that Abner had come to King David and had been sent away with a guarantee of safety. </span><span class="v10_3_24"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.24" class="v10_3_24">24</span>So Joab went to the king and said to him, “What have you done? Abner came to you—why did you let him go like that? </span><span class="v10_3_25"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.25" class="v10_3_25">25</span>He came here to deceive you and to find out everything you do and everywhere you go. Surely you know that!”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_3_26"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.26" class="v10_3_26">26</span>After leaving David, Joab sent messengers to get Abner, and they brought him back from Sirah Well; but David knew nothing about it. </span><span class="v10_3_27"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.27" class="v10_3_27">27</span>When Abner arrived in Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gate, as though he wanted to speak privately with him, and there he stabbed him in the stomach. And so Abner was murdered because he had killed Joab's brother Asahel. </span><span class="v10_3_28"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.28" class="v10_3_28">28</span>When David heard the news, he said, “The <span class="nd">Lord</span> knows that my subjects and I are completely innocent of the murder of Abner. </span><span class="v10_3_29"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.29" class="v10_3_29">29</span>May the punishment for it fall on Joab and all his family! In every generation may there be some man in his family who has gonorrhea or a dreaded skin disease or is fit only to do a woman's work or is killed in battle or doesn't have enough to eat!” </span><span class="v10_3_30"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.30" class="v10_3_30">30</span>So Joab and his brother Abishai took revenge on Abner for killing their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.</span></p><h3 class="s">Abner Is Buried</h3><p class="par"><span class="v10_3_31"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.31" class="v10_3_31">31</span>Then David ordered Joab and his men to tear their clothes, wear sackcloth, and mourn for Abner. And at the funeral King David himself walked behind the coffin. </span><span class="v10_3_32"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.32" class="v10_3_32">32</span>Abner was buried at Hebron, and the king wept aloud at the grave, and so did all the people. </span><span class="v10_3_33"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.33" class="v10_3_33">33</span>David sang this lament for Abner:</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v10_3_33">“Why did Abner have to die like a fool?</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v10_3_34"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.34" class="v10_3_34">34</span>His hands were not tied,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v10_3_34">And his feet were not bound;</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v10_3_34">He died like someone killed by criminals!”</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="m"><span class="v10_3_34">And the people wept for him again.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_3_35"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.35" class="v10_3_35">35</span>All day long the people tried to get David to eat something, but he made a solemn promise, “May God strike me dead if I eat anything before the day is over!” </span><span class="v10_3_36"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.36" class="v10_3_36">36</span>They took note of this and were pleased. Indeed, everything the king did pleased the people. </span><span class="v10_3_37"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.37" class="v10_3_37">37</span>All of David's people and all the people in Israel understood that the king had no part in the murder of Abner. </span><span class="v10_3_38"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.38" class="v10_3_38">38</span>The king said to his officials, “Don't you realize that this day a great leader in Israel has died? </span><span class="v10_3_39"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.3.39" class="v10_3_39">39</span>Even though I am the king chosen by God, I feel weak today. These sons of Zeruiah are too violent for me. May the <span class="nd">Lord</span> punish these criminals as they deserve!”</span></p><a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">3.12: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">One ancient translation </char><char style="fq" closed="false">at Hebron; </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Hebrew </char><char style="fq" closed="false">where he (Abner) was.</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 1992 American Bible Society. 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