« | 2 Samuel 3 | » |
1 There was war for a long time between Saul's family and David's family. David became stronger and stronger, but Saul's family became weaker and weaker.
2 Several of David's sons were born at Hebron. The first son was Amnon. Amnon's mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel.
3 The second son was Kileab. Kileab's mother was Abigail, who had been the wife of Nabal from Carmel. The third son was Absalom. Absalom's mother was Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur.
4 The fourth son was Adonijah. Adonijah's mother was Haggith. The fifth son was Shephatiah. Shephatiah's mother was Abital.
5 The sixth son was Ithream. Ithream's mother was David's wife Eglah. These sons were all born at Hebron.
6 As the families of Saul and David fought each other, Abner became more and more powerful in Saul's army.
7 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?"
8 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. But now you are saying that I did this bad thing.
9 The Lord said he would take the kingdom away from Saul's family and give it to David. I swear, I will make sure that happens. The Lord will make David king of Judah and Israel. He will rule from Dan to Beersheba. "
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11 Ish Bosheth was too scared of Abner to say anything in response.
12 Abner sent messengers to David and said, "Who do you think should rule this country? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you become the ruler of all the people of Israel."
13 David answered, "Good! I will make an agreement with you. But I ask you only one thing: I will not meet with you until you bring Saul's daughter Michal to me."
14 David sent messengers to Saul's son Ish Bosheth. David said, "Give me my wife Michal. She was promised to me. I killed 100 Philistines to get her."
15 Then Ish Bosheth told the men to go and take Michal from a man named Paltiel son of Laish.
16 Michal's husband, Paltiel, followed them, crying all the way to Bahurim. Finally Abner said to him, "Go back home." So Paltiel went back home.
17 Abner sent this message to the leaders of Israel. He said, "You have been wanting to make David your king.
18 Now do it! The Lord was talking about David when he said, 'I will save my people the Israelites from the Philistines and all their other enemies. I will do this through my servant David.'"
19 Abner said these things to David in Hebron, and he said these things to the people of the tribe of Benjamin. The things Abner said sounded good to the tribe of Benjamin and to all the people of Israel.
20 Then Abner came up to David at Hebron. Abner brought 20 men with him. David gave a party for Abner and for all the men who came with him.
21 Abner said to David, "My lord and king, let me go bring all the Israelites to you. Then they will make an agreement with you, and you will rule over all Israel, as you wanted." So David let Abner leave in peace.
22 Joab and David's officers came back from battle. They had many valuable things that they had taken from the enemy. David had just let Abner leave in peace. So Abner was not there in Hebron with David.
23 Joab and all his army arrived at Hebron. The army said to Joab, "Abner son of Ner came to King David, and David let Abner leave in peace."
24 Joab came to the king and said, "What have you done? Abner came to you, but you sent him away without hurting him! Why?
25 You know Abner son of Ner. He came to trick you. He came to learn all about what you are doing."
26 Joab left David and sent messengers to Abner at the well of Sirah. The messengers brought Abner back, but David did not know this.
27 When Abner arrived at Hebron, Joab met him in the gateway, pulled him aside to talk in private, and then stabbed him in the stomach. So he got his revenge against Abner. Joab killed Abner because Abner had killed Joab's brother Asahel.
28 Later David heard the news and said, "My kingdom and I are innocent of the death of Abner son of Ner. The Lord knows this.
29 Joab and his family are responsible for this, and they will be cursed. Many troubles will come to his family. His people will be sick with leprosy, crippled, killed in war, and not have enough food to eat!"
30 Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.
31 David said to Joab and to all the people with Joab, "Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth. Cry for Abner." They buried Abner in Hebron. David went to the funeral. King David and all the people cried at Abner's grave.
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33 King David sang this sad song at Abner's funeral: "Did Abner die like some foolish criminal?
34 Abner, your hands were not tied. Your feet were not put in chains. No, Abner, evil men killed you!" Then all the people cried again for Abner.
35 All day long people came to encourage David to eat food. But David had made a special promise. He said, "May God punish me and give me many troubles if I eat bread or any other food before the sun goes down."
36 All the people saw what happened, and they were pleased with what King David had done.
37 All the people of Judah and Israel understood that King David had not killed Abner son of Ner.
38 King David said to his officers, "You know that a very important leader died today in Israel.
39 And it was on the very same day that I was anointed to be the king. These sons of Zeruiah have caused me a lot of trouble. May the Lord give them the punishment they deserve."
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) is a Bible translation specifically designed to be accessible and comprehensible for people with limited reading skills or those for whom English is a second language. Originally published in 1987 by the World Bible Translation Center, the ERV was initially developed to serve the deaf community, using a simplified vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures. The goal of the ERV is to make the scriptures understandable to a wide range of readers, ensuring that everyone can grasp the essential messages of the Bible without being hindered by complex language or archaic terms.
One of the defining characteristics of the ERV is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators employed a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, focusing on conveying the meaning of the original texts in plain, everyday English. This approach ensures that readers can easily comprehend the Bible’s teachings and narratives, making it a valuable resource for children, new Christians, and those with limited literacy skills. The ERV avoids technical theological terms and instead uses language that is commonly spoken, making it accessible for personal study and public reading alike.
The ERV also pays careful attention to the cultural and contextual nuances of the original manuscripts. The translators sought to present the Bible’s messages in a way that is relevant and meaningful to contemporary readers while maintaining faithfulness to the original texts. This cultural sensitivity helps bridge the gap between ancient scriptures and modern readers, allowing them to connect more deeply with the biblical stories and teachings. Additionally, the ERV includes helpful footnotes and cross-references that provide further explanation and context, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the ERV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the simplified language and thought-for-thought approach can sometimes result in a loss of depth and richness found in the original texts. Some theologians believe that the ERV’s emphasis on accessibility may lead to oversimplification of complex theological concepts. Nonetheless, the Easy-To-Read Version remains a highly valuable translation for its target audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps people of all backgrounds engage with and understand the scriptures.