¹The 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.

David's Sons

²The following six sons, in order of their birth, were born to David at Hebron: Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam, from Jezreel;

³Chileab, whose mother was Abigail, Nabal's widow, from Carmel; Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;

⁴Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith; Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital;

⁵Ithream, whose mother was Eglah. All of these sons were born in Hebron.

Abner Joins David

⁶As 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.

⁷One day Ishbosheth son of Saul accused Abner of sleeping with Saul's concubine Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah.

⁸This 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!

^9-10The Lord 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!”

¹¹Ishbosheth was so afraid of Abner that he could not say a word.

¹²Abner sent messengers to David, who at that time was at Hebron, 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.”

¹³“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.”

¹⁴And 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.”

¹⁵So Ishbosheth had her taken from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.

¹⁶Paltiel followed her all the way to the town of Bahurim, crying as he went. But when Abner said, “Go back home,” he did.

¹⁷Abner went to the leaders of Israel and said to them, “For a long time you have wanted David to be your king.

¹⁸Now here is your chance. Remember that the Lord has said, ‘I will use my servant David to rescue my people Israel from the Philistines and from all their other enemies.’”

¹⁹Abner 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.

²⁰When Abner came to David at Hebron with twenty men, David gave a feast for them.

²¹Abner 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.

Abner Is Murdered

²²Later 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.

²³When 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.

²⁴So 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?

²⁵He came here to deceive you and to find out everything you do and everywhere you go. Surely you know that!”

²⁶After leaving David, Joab sent messengers to get Abner, and they brought him back from Sirah Well; but David knew nothing about it.

²⁷When 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.

²⁸When David heard the news, he said, “The Lord knows that my subjects and I are completely innocent of the murder of Abner.

²⁹May 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!”

³⁰So Joab and his brother Abishai took revenge on Abner for killing their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.

Abner Is Buried

³¹Then 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.

³²Abner was buried at Hebron, and the king wept aloud at the grave, and so did all the people.

³³David sang this lament for Abner: “Why did Abner have to die like a fool?

³⁴His hands were not tied, And his feet were not bound; He died like someone killed by criminals!” And the people wept for him again.

³⁵All 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!”

³⁶They took note of this and were pleased. Indeed, everything the king did pleased the people.

³⁷All of David's people and all the people in Israel understood that the king had no part in the murder of Abner.

³⁸The king said to his officials, “Don't you realize that this day a great leader in Israel has died?

³⁹Even though I am the king chosen by God, I feel weak today. These sons of Zeruiah are too violent for me. May the Lord punish these criminals as they deserve!”

King David's Children

^1-3The following, in order of age, are David's sons who were born while he was in Hebron: Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel Daniel, whose mother was Abigail from Carmel Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, daughter of King Talmai of Geshur Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital Ithream, whose mother was Eglah

⁴All six were born in Hebron during the seven and a half years that David ruled there. In Jerusalem he ruled as king for thirty-three years,

⁵and many sons were born to him there. His wife Bathsheba, daughter of Ammiel, bore him four sons: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon.

⁶He had nine other sons: Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

⁷Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

⁸Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

⁹In addition to all these sons, David had sons by his concubines. He also had a daughter, Tamar.

The Descendants of King Solomon

¹⁰This is the line of King Solomon's descendants from father to son: Solomon, Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat,

¹¹Jehoram, Ahaziah, Joash,

¹²Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham,

¹³Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh,

¹⁴Amon, and Josiah.

¹⁵Josiah had four sons: Johanan, Jehoiakim, Zedekiah, and Joahaz.

¹⁶Jehoiakim had two sons: Jehoiachin and Zedekiah.

The Descendants of King Jehoiachin

¹⁷These are the descendants of King Jehoiachin, who was taken prisoner by the Babylonians. Jehoiachin had seven sons: Shealtiel,

¹⁸Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.

¹⁹Pedaiah had two sons, Zerubbabel and Shimei. Zerubbabel was the father of two sons, Meshullam and Hananiah, and one daughter, Shelomith.

²⁰He had five other sons: Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab Hesed.

²¹Hananiah had two sons, Pelatiah and Jeshaiah. Jeshaiah was the father of Rephaiah, who was the father of Arnan, the father of Obadiah, the father of Shecaniah.

²²Shecaniah had one son, Shemaiah, and five grandsons: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat.

²³Neariah had three sons: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam.

²⁴Elioenai had seven sons: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani.

The Descendants of Judah

¹These are some of the descendants of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.

²Shobal was the father of Reaiah, who was the father of Jahath, the father of Ahumai and Lahad, the ancestors of the people who lived in Zorah.

^3-4Hur was the oldest son of his father Caleb's wife Ephrath, and his descendants founded the city of Bethlehem. Hur had three sons: Etam, Penuel, and Ezer. Etam had three sons: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash, and one daughter, Hazzelelponi. Penuel founded the city of Gedor, and Ezer founded Hushah.

⁵Ashhur, who founded the town of Tekoa, had two wives, Helah and Naarah.

⁶He and Naarah had four sons: Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari.

⁷Ashhur and Helah had three sons: Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan.

⁸Koz was the father of Anub and Zobebah, and the ancestor of the clans descended from Aharhel son of Harum.

⁹There was a man named Jabez, who was the most respected member of his family. His mother had given him the name Jabez, because his birth had been very painful.

¹⁰But Jabez prayed to the God of Israel, “Bless me, God, and give me much land. Be with me and keep me from anything evil that might cause me pain.” And God gave him what he prayed for.

Other Family Lists

¹¹Caleb, the brother of Shuhah, had a son, Mehir. Mehir was the father of Eshton,

¹²who had three sons: Bethrapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah. Tehinnah was the founder of the city of Nahash. The descendants of these men lived in Recah.

¹³Kenaz had two sons, Othniel and Seraiah. Othniel also had two sons, Hathath and Meonothai.

¹⁴Meonothai was the father of Ophrah. Seraiah was the father of Joab, the founder of Handcraft Valley, where all the people were skilled workers.

¹⁵Caleb son of Jephunneh had three sons: Iru, Elah, and Naam. And Elah was the father of Kenaz.

¹⁶Jehallelel had four sons: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.

^17-18Ezrah had four sons: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. Mered married Bithiah, a daughter of the king of Egypt, and they had a daughter, Miriam, and two sons, Shammai and Ishbah. Ishbah founded the town of Eshtemoa. Mered also married a woman from the tribe of Judah, and they had three sons: Jered, who founded the town of Gedor; Heber, founder of the town of Soco; and Jekuthiel, founder of the town of Zanoah.

¹⁹Hodiah married the sister of Naham. Their descendants founded the clan of Garm, which lived in the town of Keilah, and the clan of Maacath, which lived in the town of Eshtemoa.

²⁰Shimon had four sons: Amnon, Rinnah, Benhanan, and Tilon. Ishi had two sons: Zoheth and Benzoheth.

The Descendants of Shelah

²¹Shelah was one of Judah's sons. His descendants included Er, who founded the town of Lecah; Laadah, founder of the town of Mareshah; the clan of linen weavers, who lived in the town of Beth Ashbea;

²²Jokim and the people who lived in the town of Cozeba; and Joash and Saraph, who married Moabite women and then settled in Bethlehem. (These traditions are very old.)

²³They were potters in the service of the king and lived in the towns of Netaim and Gederah.

The Descendants of Simeon

²⁴Simeon had five sons: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul.

²⁵Shaul's son was Shallum, his grandson was Mibsam, and his great-grandson was Mishma.

²⁶Then from Mishma the line descended through Hammuel, Zaccur, and Shimei.

²⁷Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but his relatives had fewer children, and the tribe of Simeon did not grow as much as the tribe of Judah did.

²⁸Down to the time of King David the descendants of Simeon lived in the following towns: Beersheba, Moladah, Hazarshual,

²⁹Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad,

³⁰Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag,

³¹Beth Marcaboth, Hazarsusim, Bethbiri, and Shaaraim.

³²They also lived in five other places: Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan,

³³and the surrounding villages, as far southwest as the town of Baalath. These are the records which they kept of their families and of the places where they lived.

^34-38The following men were the heads of their clans: Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah, Joel, Jehu (the son of Joshibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel), Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, Ziza (the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, a descendant of Jedaiah, Shimri, and Shemaiah). Because their families continued to grow,

³⁹they spread out westward almost to Gerar and pastured their sheep on the eastern side of the valley in which that city is located.

⁴⁰They found plenty of fertile pasture lands there in a stretch of open country that was quiet and peaceful. The people who had lived there before were Hamites.

⁴¹In the time of King Hezekiah of Judah, the men named above went to Gerar and destroyed the tents and huts of the people who lived there. They drove the people out and settled there permanently because there was plenty of pasture for their sheep.

⁴²Five hundred other members of the tribe of Simeon went east to Edom. They were led by the sons of Ishi: Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel.

⁴³There they killed the surviving Amalekites, and they have lived there ever since.

A Prayer for Guidance and Protection

¹To you, O Lord, I offer my prayer;

²in you, my God, I trust. Save me from the shame of defeat; don't let my enemies gloat over me!

³Defeat does not come to those who trust in you, but to those who are quick to rebel against you.

⁴Teach me your ways, O Lord; make them known to me.

⁵Teach me to live according to your truth, for you are my God, who saves me. I always trust in you.

⁶Remember, O Lord, your kindness and constant love which you have shown from long ago.

⁷Forgive the sins and errors of my youth. In your constant love and goodness, remember me, Lord!

⁸Because the Lord is righteous and good, he teaches sinners the path they should follow.

⁹He leads the humble in the right way and teaches them his will.

¹⁰With faithfulness and love he leads all who keep his covenant and obey his commands.

¹¹Keep your promise, Lord, and forgive my sins, for they are many.

¹²Those who have reverence for the Lord will learn from him the path they should follow.

¹³They will always be prosperous, and their children will possess the land.

¹⁴The Lord is the friend of those who obey him and he affirms his covenant with them.

¹⁵I look to the Lord for help at all times, and he rescues me from danger.

¹⁶Turn to me, Lord, and be merciful to me, because I am lonely and weak.

¹⁷Relieve me of my worries and save me from all my troubles.

¹⁸Consider my distress and suffering and forgive all my sins.

¹⁹See how many enemies I have; see how much they hate me.

²⁰Protect me and save me; keep me from defeat. I come to you for safety.

²¹May my goodness and honesty preserve me, because I trust in you.

²²From all their troubles, O God, save your people Israel!