The Defeat of the Ammonites and Syrians

101 Sometime after this, the king of the Ammonites died and Hanun, his son, succeeded him as king. 2 David said, "I'd like to show some kindness to Hanun, the son of Nahash - treat him as well and as kindly as his father treated me." So David sent Hanun condolences regarding his father. 3 the Ammonite leaders warned Hanun, their head delegate, "Do you for a minute suppose that David is honoring your father by sending you comforters? Don't you think it's because he wants to snoop around the city and size it up that David has sent his emissaries to you?" 4 So Hanun seized David's men, shaved off half their beards, cut off their robes halfway up their buttocks, and sent them packing. 5 When all this was reported to David, he sent someone to meet them, for they were seriously humiliated. The king told them, "Stay in Jericho until your beards grow out. Only then come back."

6 When it dawned on the Ammonites that as far as David was concerned they stunk to high heaven, they hired Aramean soldiers from Beth-Rehob and Zobah - twenty thousand infantry - and a thousand men from the king of Maacah, and twelve thousand men from Tob. 7 When David heard of this, he dispatched Joab with his strongest fighters in full force. 8 The Ammonites marched out and arranged themselves in battle formation at the city gate. The Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah took up a position out in the open fields. 9 When Joab saw that he had two fronts to fight, before and behind, he took his pick of the best of Israel and deployed them to confront the Arameans. 10 The rest of the army he put under the command of Abishai, his brother, and deployed them to confront the Ammonites. 11 Then he said, "If the Arameans are too much for me, you help me. And if the Ammonites prove too much for you, I'll come and help you. 12 Courage! We'll fight with might and main for our people and for the cities of our God. And God will do whatever he sees needs doing!" 13 But when Joab and his soldiers moved in to fight the Arameans, they ran off in full retreat. 14 Then the Ammonites, seeing the Arameans run for dear life, took to their heels from Abishai and went into the city. So Joab left off fighting the Ammonites and returned to Jerusalem.

15 When the Arameans saw how badly they'd been beaten by Israel, they picked up the pieces and regrouped. 16 Hadadezer sent for the Arameans who were across the River. They came to Helam. Shobach, commander of Hadadezer's army, led them. 17 All this was reported to David. 18 But the Arameans again scattered before Israel. David killed seven hundred chariot drivers and forty thousand cavalry. And he mortally wounded Shobach, the army commander, who died on the battlefield. 19 When all the kings who were vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they made peace and became Israel's vassals. The Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites ever again.

31 The war between the house of Saul and the house of David dragged on and on. The longer it went on the stronger David became, with the house of Saul getting weaker.

David's Sons Born at Hebron

2 During the Hebron years, sons were born to David: Amnon, born of Ahinoam of Jezreel - the firstborn; 3 Kileab, born of Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow - his second; Absalom, born of Maacah, daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur - the third; 4 Adonijah, born of Haggith - the fourth; Shephatiah, born of Abital - the fifth; 5 Ithream, born of Eglah - the sixth. These six sons of David were born in Hebron.

Abner Plans a League with David

6 Abner took advantage of the continuing war between the house of Saul and the house of David to gain power for himself.

7 Saul had had a concubine, Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. One day Ish-Bosheth confronted Abner: "What business do you have sleeping with my father's concubine?" 8 Abner lost his temper with Ish-Bosheth, "Treat me like a dog, will you! Is this the thanks I get for sticking by the house of your father, Saul, and all his family and friends? I personally saved you from certain capture by David, and you make an issue out of my going to bed with a woman! 9 What God promised David, I'll help accomplish - transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and make David ruler over the whole country, both Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba. If not, may God do his worst to me." 10  11 Ish-Bosheth, cowed by Abner's outburst, couldn't say another word. 12 Abner went ahead and sent personal messengers to David: "Make a deal with me and I'll help bring the whole country of Israel over to you." 13 "Great," said David. "It's a deal. But only on one condition: You're not welcome here unless you bring Michal, Saul's daughter, with you when you come to meet me." 14 David then sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul: "Give me back Michal, whom I won as my wife at the cost of a hundred Philistine foreskins." 15 Ish-Bosheth ordered that she be taken from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. 16 But Paltiel followed her, weeping all the way, to Bahurim. There Abner told him, "Go home." And he went home. 17 Abner got the elders of Israel together and said, "Only yesterday, it seems, you were looking for a way to make David your king. 18 So do it - now! For God has given the go-ahead on David: 'By my servant David's hand, I'll save my people Israel from the oppression of the Philistines and all their other enemies.'" 19 Abner took the Benjaminites aside and spoke to them. Then he went to Hebron for a private talk with David, telling him everything that Israel in general and Benjamin in particular were planning to do. 20 When Abner and the twenty men who were with him met with David in Hebron, David laid out a feast for them. 21 Abner then said, "I'm ready. Let me go now to rally everyone in Israel for my master, the king. They'll make a treaty with you, authorizing you to rule them however you see fit." Abner was sent off with David's blessing.

Joab Kills Abner

22 Soon after that, David's men, led by Joab, came back from a field assignment. Abner was no longer in Hebron with David, having just been dismissed with David's blessing. 23 As Joab and his raiding party arrived, they were told that Abner the son of Ner had been there with David and had been sent off with David's blessing. 24 Joab went straight to the king: "What's this you've done? Abner shows up, and you let him walk away scot-free? 25 You know Abner son of Ner better than that. This was no friendly visit. He was here to spy on you, figure out your comings and goings, find out what you're up to." 26 Joab left David and went into action. He sent messengers after Abner; they caught up with him at the well at Sirah and brought him back. David knew nothing of all this. 27 When Abner got back to Hebron, Joab steered him aside at the gate for a personal word with him. There he stabbed him in the belly, killed him in cold blood for the murder of his brother Asahel. 28 Later on, when David heard what happened, he said, "Before God I and my kingdom are totally innocent of this murder of Abner son of Ner. 29 Joab and his entire family will always be under the curse of this bloodguilt. May they forever be victims of crippling diseases, violence, and famine." 30 (Joab and his brother, Abishai, murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel at the battle of Gibeon.) 31 David ordered Joab and all the men under him, "Rip your cloaks into rags! Wear mourning clothes! Lead Abner's funeral procession with loud lament!" King David followed the coffin. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron. The king's voice was loud in lament as he wept at the side of Abner's grave. All the people wept, too. 33 Then the king sang this tribute to Abner: Can this be? Abner dead like a nameless bum? 34 You were a free man, free to go and do as you wished - Yet you fell as a victim in a street brawl. And all the people wept - a crescendo of crying! 35 They all came then to David, trying to get him to eat something before dark. But David solemnly swore, "I'll not so much as taste a piece of bread, or anything else for that matter, before sunset, so help me God!" 36 Everyone at the funeral took notice - and liked what they saw. In fact everything the king did was applauded by the people. 37 It was clear to everyone that day, including all Israel, that the king had nothing to do with the death of Abner son of Ner. 38 The king spoke to his servants: "You realize, don't you, that today a prince and hero fell victim of foul play in Israel? 39 And I, though anointed king, was helpless to do anything about it. These sons of Zeruiah are too much for me. God, requite the criminal for his crime!"