Add parallel Print Page Options

Abner Decides to Join David

As the families of Saul and David fought each other, Abner became more and more powerful in Saul’s army. Saul had a slave woman named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you have sexual relations with my father’s servant woman?”

This made Abner very angry. He said, “I have been loyal to Saul and his family. I did not give you to David. I am not a traitor working for Judah.[a] But now you are saying that I did this bad thing.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 3:8 I am not … Judah Literally, “Am I a dog’s head of Judah?”

Abner Goes Over to David

During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner(A) had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul. Now Saul had had a concubine(B) named Rizpah(C) daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”

Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. So he answered, “Am I a dog’s head(D)—on Judah’s side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven’t handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman!

Read full chapter