Abner

that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.

Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasah the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet.

Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to shale in peace.

But deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table.

A reading from 2 Samuel When Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed.

Now Saul's son had two men, who were captains of raiding bands.

The name of the one was Banna, and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Rimon, a man of Benjamin, from Beoroth, for Beoroth also is counted part of Benjamin.

When one told me, behold Saul is dead, and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news.

How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house, on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand, and destroy you from the earth? And David commanded his young men, and they killed them, and cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron.

But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, Behold, we are your bone and flesh.

In times past, When Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel.

A reading from the book of 2 Samuel.

When Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed.

Now Saul's son had two men who were captains of raiding bands.

The name of the one was Barna, and the name of the other, Rechab, sons of Ramon, a man of Benjamin, from Beoroth.

As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity, when one told me, Behold, Saul is dead, and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news.

How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house, on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth? And David commanded his young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hung them beside the pool at Hebron.

But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, Behold, we are your bone and flesh.

When David's time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, "I am about to go the way of all the earth.

Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn — that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.' Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet.

Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

But deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table.

And when it was told King Solomon, "Joab has fled to the tent of the Lord, and behold, he is beside the altar," Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, "Go, strike him down." So Benaiah came to the tent of the Lord and said to him, "The king commands, 'Come out.'" But he said, "No, I will die here." Then Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, "Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me." The king replied to him, "Do as he has said.

Strike him down and bury him, and thus take away from me and from my father's house the guilt for the blood that Joab shed without cause.

The Lord will bring back his bloody deeds on his own head, because without the knowledge of my father David, he attacked and killed with the sword two men more righteous and better than himself: Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah.

So shall their blood come back on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever.

These were born to David in Hebron.

While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.

Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Risper, the daughter of Aiah.

And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Why have you gone in to my father's concubine? Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, Am I a 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 judge me today with a thought concerning a woman.

God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the Lord has sworn to him.

to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.

And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.