2 Samuel · Catholic Public Domain Version
2 Samuel 3 Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
1 Then a long struggle occurred between the house of Saul and the house of David, with David prospering and growing ever stronger, but the house of Saul decreasing daily.
1 Now there was a long war between Saul’s house and David’s house. David grew stronger and stronger, but Saul’s house grew weaker and weaker.
2 And sons were born to David in Hebron. And his firstborn son was Amnon, from Ahinoam the Jezreelite.
2 Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
3 And after him, there was Chileab, from Abigail, the wife of Nabal of Carmel. Then the third was Absalom, the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, the king of Geshur.
3 and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
4 Then the fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith. And the fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital.
4 and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
5 Also, the sixth was Ithream, from Eglah, the wife of David. These were born to David at Hebron.
5 and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
6 Then, while there was a battle between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner, the son of Ner, was reigning over the house of Saul.
6 While there was war between Saul’s house and David’s house, Abner made himself strong in Saul’s house.
7 Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbosheth said to Abner,
7 Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”
8 “Why did you enter to the concubine of my father?” But he, being exceedingly angry at the words of Ishbosheth, said: “Am I the head of a dog against Judah this day? I have shown mercy to the house of Saul, your father, and to his brothers and friends. And I have not delivered you into the hands of David. And yet today you have sought me, so that you might rebuke me over a woman?
8 Then Abner was very angry about Ishbosheth’s words, and said, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to your father Saul’s house, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman!
9 May God do these things to Abner, and may he add these other things, if, in the same way that the Lord swore to David, I do not do so with him:
9 God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Yahweh has sworn to David, I don’t do even so to him:
10 that the kingdom be transferred from the house of Saul, and that the throne of David be elevated over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”
10 to transfer the kingdom from Saul’s house, and to set up David’s throne over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.”
11 And he was not able to respond anything to him, because he was in fear of him.
11 He could not answer Abner another word, because he was afraid of him.
12 Therefore, Abner sent messengers to David for himself, saying, “Whose is the land?” and so that they would say, “Make a friendship with me, and my hand will be with you, and I will lead back all of Israel to you.”
12 Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “Whose is the land?” and saying, “Make your alliance with me, and behold, my hand will be with you to bring all Israel around to you.”
13 And he said: “It is best. I will make a friendship with you. But one thing I ask of you, saying: You shall not see my face before you bring Michal, the daughter of Saul. And in this way, you shall come, and see me.”
13 David said, “Good. I will make a treaty with you, but one thing I require of you. That is, you will not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”
14 Then David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, saying, “Restore my wife Michal, whom I espoused to myself for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”
14 David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I was given to marry for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”
15 Therefore, Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel, the son of Laish.
15 Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, Paltiel the son of Laish.
16 And her husband was following her, weeping, as far as Bahurim. And Abner said to him, “Go and return.” And he returned.
16 Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go! Return!” and he returned.
17 Likewise, Abner sent word to the elders of Israel, saying: “As much yesterday as the day before, you were seeking David, so that he might reign over you.
17 Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past, you sought for David to be king over you.
18 Therefore, accomplish it now. For the Lord has spoken to David, saying: ‘By the hand of my servant David, I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’ ”
18 Now then do it! For Yahweh has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David, I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.’”
19 Then Abner also spoke to Benjamin. And he went away, so that he might speak to David in Hebron all that would be pleasing to Israel and to all of Benjamin.
19 Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin; and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.
20 And he went to David in Hebron with twenty men. And David made a feast for Abner, and for his men who had arrived with him.
20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast.
21 And Abner said to David, “I will rise up, so that I may gather all of Israel to you, my lord the king, and so that I may enter into a pact with you, and so that you may reign over all, just as your soul desires.” Then, when David had led Abner away, and he had departed in peace,
21 Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires.” David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
22 immediately the servants of David and of Joab arrived, after having slain robbers, with exceedingly great spoils. But Abner was not with David in Hebron. For by then he had sent him away, and he had set out in peace.
22 Behold, David’s servants and Joab came from a raid and brought in a great plunder with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.
23 And Joab, and the entire army that was with him, had arrived afterward. And so, it was reported to Joab, explaining that Abner, the son of Ner, went to the king, and he dismissed him, and he went away in peace.
23 When Joab and all the army who was with him had come, they told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace.”
24 And Joab entered to the king, and he said: “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him, so that he has gone and departed?
24 Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, and he is already gone?
25 Do you not know, about Abner, the son of Ner, that he came to you for this, so that he might deceive you, and might know of your departure and your return, and so that he might know all that you do?”
25 You know Abner the son of Ner. He came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do.”
26 And so, Joab, going out from David, sent messengers after Abner, and he brought him back from the cistern of Sirah, without David knowing.
26 When Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David didn’t know it.
27 And when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him alone to the middle of the gate, so that he might speak to him, but with deceit. And there, he stabbed him in the groin, and he died, in revenge for the blood of Asahel, his brother.
27 When Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the body, so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28 And when David had heard of it, now that the matter was done, he said: “I and my kingdom are clean before the Lord, even forever, of the blood of Abner, the son of Ner.
28 Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
29 And may it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon the entire house of his father. And may there not fail to be, in the house of Joab, one who suffers from a flow of seed, or one who is leprous, or one who is effeminate, or one who falls by the sword, or one who is in need of bread.”
29 Let it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”
30 And so, Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon, during the battle.
30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
31 Then David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your garments, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before the funeral procession of Abner.” Moreover, king David himself was following the casket.
31 David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn in front of Abner.” King David followed the bier.
32 And when they had buried Abner in Hebron, king David lifted up his voice, and he wept over the burial mound of Abner. And all the people also wept.
32 They buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at Abner’s grave; and all the people wept.
33 And the king, mourning and lamenting Abner, said: “By no means has Abner died the way that cowards usually die.
33 The king lamented for Abner, and said, “Should Abner die as a fool dies?
34 Your hands are not bound, and your feet are not weighed down with fetters. But just as men often fall before the sons of iniquity, so you have fallen.” And while repeating this, all the people wept over him.
34 Your hands weren’t bound, and your feet weren’t put into fetters. As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so you fell.” All the people wept again over him.
35 And when the entire multitude had arrived to take food with David, while it was still broad daylight, David swore, saying, “May God do these things to me, and may he add these other things, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets.”
35 All the people came to urge David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else, until the sun goes down.”
36 And all the people heard it, and everything that the king did in the sight of the entire people was pleasing to them.
36 All the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as whatever the king did pleased all the people.
37 And every common person, and all of Israel, realized on that day that the killing of Abner, the son of Ner, had not been done by the king.
37 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner.
38 The king also said to his servants: “Could you be ignorant that a leader and a very great man has fallen today in Israel?
38 The king said to his servants, “Don’t you know that a prince and a great man has fallen today in Israel?
39 But I am still tender, and yet anointed king. And these men of the sons of Zeruiah are too harsh for me. May the Lord repay whoever does evil in accord with his malice.”
39 I am weak today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May Yahweh reward the evildoer according to his wickedness.”
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Abital
A wife of David who bore his fifth son, Shephatiah, in Hebron.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 3:4; 1 Chronicles 3:3
Absalom
David's handsome son who avenged Tamar, rebelled against his father, and briefly seized the throne.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 3:3; 2 Samuel 15-18
Adonijah
A son of David who tried to claim the throne ahead of Solomon in David's final days.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 3:4; 1 Kings 1-2
Aiah
Named as the father of Rizpah, Saul's concubine.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 3:7; 2 Samuel 21:8
Amnon
David's firstborn son, who wronged his half-sister Tamar and was killed by Absalom in revenge.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 3:2; 2 Samuel 13
Chileab
David's second son, born to Abigail, who is named but scarcely mentioned afterward.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 3:3; 1 Chronicles 3:1
David
The shepherd who became Israel's greatest king and a man after God's own heart.
Cited in the guide: 1 Sam. 16 - 1 Kings 2; 2 Sam. 7; 1 Chron. 2:15; Matt. 1:6
Eglah
A wife of David who bore his sixth son, Ithream, in Hebron.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 3:5; 1 Chronicles 3:3
Haggith
A wife of David who bore his fourth son, Adonijah, in Hebron.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 3:4; 1 Kings 1:5; 1 Kings 1:11
Ithream
David's sixth son, born in Hebron to David's wife Eglah.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 3:5; 1 Chronicles 3:3
Joab
Son of Zeruiah and commander of David's army, who killed Abner and Amasa, besieged Rabbah, killed Absalom in the oak, and carried out David's census.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 2:13; 2 Samuel 3:27; 2 Samuel 12:26
Laish
Named as the father of Palti (Paltiel), to whom Saul gave Michal; Palti is described as being from Gallim.
Cited in the guide: 1 Samuel 25:44; 2 Samuel 3:15
Maacah
Daughter of King Talmai of Geshur, who bore David his third son, Absalom, in Hebron.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 3:3; 1 Chronicles 3:2
Paltiel
Palti son of Laish, from Gallim, to whom Saul gave his daughter Michal; he followed her weeping to Bahurim when Ish-bosheth took her from him for David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Samuel 25:44; 2 Samuel 3:15
Rizpah
Saul's concubine, the daughter of Aiah, who bore Saul two sons and, after they were hanged by the Gibeonites, guarded their bodies from the birds and beasts from the harvest until…
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 3:7; 2 Samuel 21:8; 2 Samuel 21:10
Shephatiah
David's fifth son, born in Hebron to Abital.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 3:4; 1 Chronicles 3:3
Talmai
King of Geshur and father of David's wife Maacah, to whom Absalom fled after killing Amnon and with whom he stayed three years.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 3:3; 2 Samuel 13:37; 1 Chronicles 3:2
Cross references (33)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Kings 14:30; Job 8:7; Proverbs 4:18–19; 2 Samuel 2:17; Ephesians 6:12
- 2 1 Chronicles 3:1–4; 1 Samuel 25:42–43; 2 Samuel 13:1–29; Genesis 49:3–4
- 3 1 Samuel 27:8; 1 Chronicles 3:1; 2 Samuel 13:20–28; 2 Samuel 2:2; 2 Samuel 13:37–38
- 4 1 Kings 2:13–25; 1 Kings 1:5–18
- 6 2 Samuel 2:8–9; Isaiah 8:9–10; Matthew 12:30; 2 Chronicles 25:8; Joel 3:9–13
- 7 2 Samuel 21:8–11; 2 Samuel 12:8; 2 Samuel 16:21–22; 1 Kings 2:21–22; 1 Kings 2:17
- 8 2 Samuel 9:8; 2 Samuel 16:9; 1 Samuel 15:28; Deuteronomy 23:18; 2 Samuel 5:2
- 9 1 Samuel 15:28; 1 Kings 19:2; Ruth 1:17; 1 Samuel 28:17; 1 Chronicles 12:23
- 10 Judges 20:1; 1 Samuel 3:20; 2 Samuel 17:11; 2 Samuel 24:2; 1 Kings 4:25
- 12 1 Chronicles 12:38–40; 2 Samuel 5:1–3; Psalm 62:9; 2 Samuel 19:6; Luke 16:5–8
- 13 Genesis 43:3; 1 Chronicles 15:29; Genesis 44:23; 1 Samuel 19:11–17; 1 Samuel 18:20–28
- 14 1 Samuel 18:27; 1 Samuel 18:25; 2 Samuel 2:10
- 15 1 Samuel 25:44
- 16 2 Samuel 16:5; 2 Samuel 19:16; 1 Kings 2:8; 2 Samuel 17:18; Proverbs 9:17–18
- 18 1 Samuel 15:28; Psalm 89:19–23; 1 Samuel 9:16; Psalm 89:3–4; 2 Samuel 3:9
- 19 1 Chronicles 12:29; 1 Samuel 10:20–21; Psalm 68:27
- 20 Genesis 26:30; Esther 1:3; Genesis 31:54
- 21 2 Samuel 3:12; 1 Kings 11:37; 2 Samuel 3:10; Philippians 2:21; Psalm 20:4
- 24 2 Samuel 19:5–7; 2 Samuel 3:39; 2 Samuel 3:8; John 18:35; Numbers 23:11
- 25 Isaiah 37:28; Numbers 27:17; Deuteronomy 28:6; Psalm 121:8; 1 Samuel 29:4–6
- 26 Proverbs 27:4–6; Proverbs 26:23–26
- 27 1 Kings 2:5; 2 Samuel 20:9–10; 1 Kings 2:32; Deuteronomy 27:24; Jeremiah 41:6–7
- 28 Numbers 35:33; Exodus 21:12; Genesis 4:10; Genesis 9:6; Deuteronomy 21:1–9
- 29 2 Samuel 1:16; Psalm 109:8–19; 1 Kings 2:31–34; Acts 28:4; 2 Kings 5:1
- 30 Acts 28:4; 2 Samuel 2:19–23; Proverbs 28:17
- 31 Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 1:2; 2 Samuel 1:11; Joshua 7:6; Judges 11:35
- 32 Proverbs 24:17; Job 31:28; 2 Samuel 1:12; 1 Samuel 30:4; 2 Samuel 18:33
- 33 2 Chronicles 35:25; Luke 12:19–20; 2 Samuel 1:17; 2 Samuel 13:12–13; Ecclesiastes 2:15–16
- 34 Judges 16:21; Hosea 6:9; Psalm 107:10–11; Job 24:14; 2 Samuel 1:12
- 35 2 Samuel 1:12; 2 Samuel 12:17; Ruth 1:17; Jeremiah 16:7; Ezekiel 24:17
- 36 Mark 7:37; Mark 15:11–13; Psalm 62:9; 2 Samuel 15:6; 2 Samuel 15:13
- 38 Job 32:9; 1 Samuel 14:50–51; 2 Samuel 3:12; 2 Samuel 2:8
- 39 Psalm 28:4; Psalm 101:8; 1 Kings 2:33–34; 2 Timothy 4:14; Proverbs 25:5
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences