Daniel P. Barron

1 And the war was long between Saul's house and David's house. And David's house grew stronger, ⁱ and Saul's house grew weaker. ⁱⁱ 2 And there were sons born to David in Hebron, and his firstborn was Amnon ⁱⁱⁱ to Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, 3 and his second, Chileab ^iv to Abigail, woman of Fool the Carmelite, and the third Absalom, ^v son of Maachah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur, 4 and the forth, Adonijah, ^vi son of Haggith, ^vii and the fifth, Shephatiah, ^viii son of Abital, ^ix 5 and the sixth, Ithream, ^x to Heifer ^xi David's woman. These they bore to David in Hebron.

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6 And in was, during the war between Saul's house and David's house, so Abner was strengthening himself in Saul's house. 7 And Saul had a concubine, and her name was Rizpah, ^xii daughter of Ajah. ^xiii And he said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?” 8 And Abner became very angry at Man of Shame's words, and said, “Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? Today I do kindness to Saul's house, your father, to his brethren and to his friends, ^xiv and I have not made you found in David's hand. And you put on me an iniquity of the woman today! 9 Thus, Gods, may he do to Abner and thus add to him, if just as Yehvah swore to David, so thus shall I do for him, 10 to transfer the kingdom from Saul's house and to raise up David's throne over Israel and over Judah from Dan to Beersheba.” 11 And he was not able again to return Abner a word from his fear of him.

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12 And Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying, “Whose is the land?” Saying, “Cut your covenant with me. And behold, my hand is with you to turn to you all of Israel.” 13 And he said, “Good, I will cut with you a covenant. However, one thing I require from you,” saying, “you shall not see my face, unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face.”

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14 And David sent messengers to Man of Shame, Saul's son, saying, “Give my woman, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistines' foreskins.” 15 And Man of Shame sent and took her from with a man, from with Paltiel, ^xv son of Lush. ^xvi 16 And her man went with her, walking and weeping after her unto Young Men. ^xvii And Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned.

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17 And Abner's word was with elders of Israel, saying, “Even yesterday, even three days ago, ^xviii you were seeking David for king over you. 18 So now, do it, for Yehvah has said to David, saying, 'In David my servant's hand, saving my people Israel from Philistines' hand and from all their enemies hand.'” 19 And Abner also spoke in Benjamin's ears, and Abner also went to speak in David's ears in Hebron all that was good in Israel's eyes and eyes of all Benjamin's house.

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20 And Abner came to David at Hebron, and with him were twenty men. And David made a feast for Abner and for the men who were with him. 21 And Abner said to David, “I will arise and go and gather together to my lord the king all Israel. And they shall cut a covenant with you, and you shall reign in all your soul desires.” And David sent Abner, and he went in peace.

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22 And behold, David's servants and Joab came from the troop, and they brought much spoil with them. And Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he sent him and he went in peace. 23 And Joab and all the army that was with him came, and they declared to Joab, saying, “Abner, son of Lamp, came to the king, and he sent him and he went in peace.” 24 And Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. For what is this? You sent him, and he surely went? 25 You know Abner, son of Lamp, that he came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

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26 And Joab went out from with David, and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from well of Sirah. ^xix And David did not know. 27 And Abner returned to Hebron, and Joab turned him aside to the midst of the gate to speak with him in private. And he struck him there in the belly, and he died for the blood of Asahel his brother.

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28 And David heard afterwards and said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before Yehvah forever from the blood of Abner, son of Lamp. 29 May it whirl ^xx upon Joab's head and to all his father's house. And from Joab's let there not be cut off a discharge and a leper and one who grabs on the spindle ^xxi and who falls by the sword, and lacks bread.” 30 And Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he killed Asahel their brother in Gibeon in the battle.

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31 And David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes and gird on sackcloth and lament for Abner.” And the king went after the coffin. 32 And 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 recited to Abner and said, “As the death of a fool Abner died? 34 Your hands were not bound. Your feet not drawn near to fetters. As falling before sons of injustice ^xxii you fell.” And all the people began to weep again over him.

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35 And all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while yet the day. And David swore saying, “Thus Gods, may he do to me and thus do again, if before the coming in of the Sun I taste bread or anything else.” 36 And all the people took notice, and it was good in their eyes, as all that the king did was good in the eyes of all the people. 37 And all the people and all Israel knew on that day that it was not from the king to put Abner, son of Lamp, to death. 38 And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a ruler and a great one has fallen this day in Israel? 39 And I today am weak and anointed king, and these men, sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me. Yehvah repay to the doer of bad according to his bad.”

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2 Samuel 2 - 2 Samuel 4

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Translated by Darwin Fish. See original pdfs here and here.

1. ק זזֵחחָו קךו ללֵה) holêkh vechâzêq) “grew stronger” - singular participle and adjective ^
2. e and participle plural” - weaker grew) “vedalliym holkhiym (הֵללָח כי יםו וָח דל לי ים ^
3. ן חנוָאלמ') amnon) “Amnon” - found also in 2 Samuel 13:1-4, 6-10, 15, 20(ן ינו מי אמ'] amiynon] w/definite article), 22, 26-29, 32-33, 39; 1 Chronicles 3:1; and 1 Chronicles 4:20 for Shimon's son ^
4. ב זֵא חָל כי) kilâv) “Chileab” - only here – called also “Daniel” קאל ניי זֵד) dâniyyê'l) in 1 Chronicles 3:1. ^
5. ם זֵש חָב אל') avshâlom) “Absalom” (= father is peace) – found in 2 Samuel 13-19; 20:6; 1 Kings 1:6; 2:7, 28; 1 Chronicles 3:2; 2 Chronicles 11:20-21 (= 1 Kings 15:2, 10, ום לו זֵיש בי אמ'] aviyshâlom] = my father is peace); Psalm 3:1. ^
6. זהֵלנייֵאמד') adonuyyâh) “Adonijah” (= my lord is Yah) – found also in 1 Kings 1:5, 7-9, 11, 13, 18, 24-25, 41-43, 49-51; 2:13, 19, 21-24, 28; 1 Chronicles 3:2; 2 Chronicles 17:8 (a Levite); Nehemiah 10:16 (a leader). ^
7. ת חל) chaggiyt) “Haggith” (= festive, חלג] chag] is “feast” e.g. Judges 21:19; see also the male version of this word in Genesis 46:16) - 1 Kings 1:5, 11; 2:13; 1 Chronicles 3:2. ^
8. זהֵי חָט פל חָש) shephatyâh) “Shephatiah” (= “Yah judged”) - found also in 1 Chronicles 3:3; 9:8; 12:5(H6 זהוֵי חָט פל חָש [shephatyâhu]); 27:16 (זהוֵי חָט פל חָש] shephatyâhu]); 2 Chronicles 21:2 (זהוֵחיָחפלטָש] shephatyâhu]); Ezra 2:4, 57; 8:8; Nehemiah 7:9, 59; 11:4; Jeremiah 38:1. ^
9. ל זֵיט בי אמ') aviytâl) “Abital” (= “my father is dew” - Dew is seen as a good thing, e.g. Genesis 27:28) - found also in 1 Chronicles 3:3. ^
10. ם זֵע חָר חָיית) yitre`âm) “Ithream” - found also in 1 Chronicles 3:3. ^
11. ה זֵל חָג עג`) egklâh) “Heifer” (same exact word as in 1 Samuel 16:2 “heifer” NKJV); “Eglah” NKJV, etc. - as a name found also in 1 Chronicles 3:3. ^
12. ה זֵפ חָצ רי) ritspâh) “Rizpah” (= “burning coal” e.g. Isaiah 6:6 NKJV) – found also as a name in 2 Samuekl 21:8, 10-11. ^
13. הֵאלי') ayyâh) “Ajah” (= “kite” TT or “falcon” NKJV e.g. Leviticus 11:14 [see footnote]) – see footnote for Genesis 36:24 ^
14. הו קע קר מ) mêrê`êhu) “his friends” - “friend” is singular, but translated plural due to meaning is not limited to a single friend. This same word is used in this same way in Proverbs 19:7 with the singular noun “friend” and a plural verb. ^
15. ל ק יא טי חָל פל) paltiy'êl) “Paltiel” - named “Palti” חטייָפלל) palti) in 1 Samuel 25:44. ^
16. Read ללייש) layish) “Lion,” written לוש) lush) “Lush” (= to “knead” e.g. 2 Samuel 13:8) – named “Lion” ללייש) layish) in 1 Samuel 25:44 (see footnote). ^
17. ם רי חר בל) bachuriym) “Young Men” (= “young men” e.g. Numbers 11:28); NKJV, etc. “Bahurim.” ^
18. ם לםֵש חָל ם־שי גל מולו חָם־ת גל) gam-temol gam shilshom) “Even yesterday, even three days ago” - this is a figure of speech meaning, “In time past.” ^
19. ה ררָסה) sirâh) “Sirah” - only here. ^
20. ו י) yâchlu) “whirl” Green, NET, TLV; “rest” NKJV; “fall” NAS; “stay” YLT – this verb is also used for dancing (e.g. Judges 21:23), for pain (e.g. 1 Samuel 31:3), and for waiting longingly (e.g. Job 35:14).  ^
21. ךְךלְפ) pelekh) “spindle” (= “spindle” Proverbs 31:19 NKJV) CSB, NET, WYC, etc.; “distaff” NAS; “staff” NKJV. ^
22. ה ה ל ול ניי־עו בל) venêy-`avlâh) “sons of injustice”; YLT “sons of evil” - ה ה ל ול עו`) avlâh) = “injustice” (e.g. Job 6:29 NKJV). ^