Facta est ergo longa concertatio inter domum Saul et inter domum David: David proficiscens, et semper seipso robustior, domus autem Saul decrescens quotidie.

Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: David prospering and growing always stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul decaying daily.

It was a long struggle between Saul’s line and David’s; but ever the fortunes and power of David grew, while the cause of Saul became daily weaker.

Natique sunt filii David in Hebron: fuitque primogenitus ejus Amnon, de Achinoam Jezraëlitide.

And sons were born to David in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon of Achinoam the Jezrahelitess:

Six sons were born to David, there in Hebron; Amnon, his first-born, by Achinoam of Jezrahel,

Et post eum Cheleab, de Abigail uxore Nabal Carmeli: porro tertius Absalom, filius Maacha filiæ Tholmai regis Gessur.

And his second Cheleab of Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel: and the third Absalom the son of Maacha the daughter of Tholmai king of Gessur:

then Cheleab, by Abigail, that had been Nabal’s wife at Carmel, then Absalom, by Maacha, daughter to Tholmai, king of Gessur.

Quartus autem Adonias, filius Haggith: et quintus Saphathia, filius Abital.

And the fourth Adonias, the son of Haggith: and the fifth Saphathia the son of Abital:

The fourth was Adonias, son of Haggith, the fifth Saphathia, son of Abital,

Sextus quoque Jethraam, de Egla uxore David: hi nati sunt David in Hebron.

And the sixth Jethraam of Egla the wife of David: these were born to David in Hebron.

the sixth Jethraam, that David’s wife Egla bore him; of all these Hebron was the birth-place.

Cum ergo esset prælium inter domum Saul et domum David, Abner filius Ner regebat domum Saul.

Now while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner the son of Ner ruled the house of Saul.

As long as war lasted between the two dynasties, Abner the son of Ner was the head of Saul’s party.

Fuerat autem Sauli concubina nomine Respha, filia Aja. Dixitque Isboseth ad Abner:

And Saul had a concubine named Respha, the daughter of Aia. And Isboseth said to Abner:

But Saul had left a concubine, Respha the daughter of Aia; and of her Isboseth said to Abner,

Quare ingressus es ad concubinam patris mei? Qui iratus nimis propter verba Isboseth, ait: Numquid caput canis ego sum adversum Judam hodie, qui fecerim misericordiam super domum Saul patris tui, et super fratres et proximos ejus, et non tradidi te in manus David, et tu requisisti in me quod argueres pro muliere hodie?

Why didst thou go in to my father’s concubine? And he was exceedingly angry for the words of Isboseth, and said: Am I a dog’s head against Juda this day, who have shewn mercy to the house of Saul thy father, and to his brethren and friends, and have not delivered thee into the hands of David, and hast thou sought this day against me to charge me with a matter concerning a woman?

What, wouldst thou mate with my father’s concubine? And he, greatly angered by Isboseth’s words, cried out, I have made all Juda shun me like a carrion-dog, by befriending the line of thy father Saul, his kindred and his court, instead of giving thee up to David; and am I to be called to account this day over a woman?

Hæc faciat Deus Abner, et hæc addat ei, nisi quomodo juravit Dominus David, sic faciam cum eo,

So do God to Abner, and more also, unless as the Lord hath sworn to David, so I do to him,

God punish Abner as he deserves and more than he deserves, if I do not fulfil the promise which the Lord made to David;

ut transferatur regnum de domo Saul, et elevetur thronus David super Israël et super Judam, a Dan usque Bersabee.

That the kingdom be translated from the house of Saul, and the throne of David be set up over Israel, and over Juda from Dan to Bersabee.

the kingship shall be taken away from Saul’s line, and David shall reign over Israel and Juda alike, from Dan to Bersabee!

Et non potuit respondere ei quidquam, quia metuebat illum.

And he could not answer him a word, because he feared him.

Never a word did Isboseth say in answer, so greatly did he fear him.

Misit ergo Abner nuntios ad David pro se dicentes: Cujus est terra? et ut loquerentur: Fac mecum amicitias, et erit manus mea tecum, et reducam ad te universum Israël.

Abner therefore sent messengers to David for himself, saying: Whose is the land? and that they should say: Make a league with me, and my hand shall be with thee: and I will bring all Israel to thee.

Then Abner sent a message to David, claiming that the land lay in his own power; League thyself with me, the message ran, and I will help thee, and reduce all Israel to thy obedience.

Qui ait: Optime: ego faciam tecum amicitias: sed unam rem peto a te, dicens: Non videbis faciem meam antequam adduxeris Michol filiam Saul: et sic venies, et videbis me.

And he said: Very well: I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, saying: Thou shalt not see my face before thou bring Michol the daughter of Saul: and so thou shalt come, and see me.

And David answered, Well said; I am ready to make a league with thee, but one thing first. Thou canst not be admitted to my presence unless thou bringest Michol, Saul’s daughter, with thee; so only shalt thou find audience.

Misit autem David nuntios ad Isboseth filium Saul, dicens: Redde uxorem meam Michol, quam despondi mihi centum præputiis Philisthiim.

And David sent messengers to Isboseth the son of Saul, saying: Restore my wife Michol, whom I espoused to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

At the same time, he sent a message to Isboseth, that was heir to king Saul, Give me back my wife Michol, the bride I won with the foreskins of a hundred Philistines.

Misit ergo Isboseth, et tulit eam a viro suo Phaltiel filio Lais.

And Isboseth sent, and took her from her husband Phaltiel, the son of Lais.

So Isboseth sent and had her taken away from her husband Phaltiel, son of Lais,

Sequebaturque eam vir suus, plorans usque Bahurim: et dixit ad eum Abner: Vade, et revertere. Qui reversus est.

And her husband followed her, weeping as far as Bahurim: and Abner said to him: Go and return. And he returned.

who followed her, weeping, all the way to Bahurim. But Abner bade him turn and go back, and go back he did.

Sermonem quoque intulit Abner ad seniores Israël, dicens: Tam heri quam nudiustertius quærebatis David ut regnaret super vos.

Abner also spoke to the ancients of Israel, saying: Both yesterday and the day before you sought for David that he might reign over you.

Meanwhile, Abner sent the word round among the elders of Israel, It was but yesterday you were eager to have David for your king.

Nunc ergo facite: quoniam Dominus locutus est ad David, dicens: In manu servi mei David salvabo populum meum Israël de manu Philisthiim, et omnium inimicorum ejus.

Now then do it: because the Lord hath spoken to David, saying: By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hands of the Philistines, and of all their enemies.

It is time now, to fulfil the promise the Lord made to David; by David’s hand I will rid my people Israel of the Philistines, and of all their enemies.

Locutus est autem Abner etiam ad Benjamin. Et abiit ut loqueretur ad David in Hebron omnia quæ placuerant Israëli et universo Benjamin.

And Abner spoke also to Benjamin. And he went to speak to David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to all Benjamin.

Even among the men of Benjamin Abner sent the word out. Then he went to tell David, at Hebron, of the resolve made by Israel, and by the tribe of Benjamin at large.

Venitque ad David in Hebron cum viginti viris: et fecit David Abner, et viris ejus qui venerant cum eo, convivium.

And he came to David in Hebron with twenty men: and David made a feast for Abner, and his men that came with him.

He came to Hebron with twenty men, and there David made a feast for him and his companions.

Et dixit Abner ad David: Surgam, ut congregem ad te dominum meum regem omnem Israël, et ineam tecum fœdus, et imperes omnibus, sicut desiderat anima tua. Cum ergo deduxisset David Abner, et ille isset in pace,

And Abner said to David: I will rise, that I may gather all Israel unto thee my lord the king, and may enter into a league with thee, and that thou mayst reign over all as thy soul desireth. Now when David had brought Abner on his way, and he was gone in peace,

And now, said Abner, I will go and rally all Israel to thy cause, my lord king. By this league of ours, they shall be thy subjects, loyal to thy will. So David took leave of him, and he went on his way in peace.

statim pueri David et Joab venerunt, cæsis latronibus, cum præda magna nimis: Abner autem non erat cum David in Hebron, quia jam dimiserat eum, et profectus fuerat in pace.

Immediately David’s servants and Joab came, after having slain the robbers, with an exceeding great booty: And Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had now sent him away, and he was gone in peace.

Soon David’s men, with Joab at their head, came home from an attack on the freebooters, loaded with spoil. They did not find Abner in Hebron; David had but now sent him on his way in peace;

Et Joab, et omnis exercitus qui erat cum eo, postea venerunt: nuntiatum est itaque Joab a narrantibus: Venit Abner filius Ner ad regem, et dimisit eum, et abiit in pace.

And Joab and all the army that was with him, came afterwards: and it was told Joab, that Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

they came too late, Joab and his men. But Joab was told how Abner, son of Ner, had visited the king, and of their friendly parting;

Et ingressus est Joab ad regem, et ait: Quid fecisti? Ecce venit Abner ad te: quare dimisisti eum, et abiit et recessit?

And Joab went in to the king, and said: What hast thou done? Behold Abner came to thee: Why didst thou send him away, and he is gone and departed?

so he went at once into the royal presence, and cried, What is this? Abner with thee, and thou hast let him slip through thy hands, gone, free as air!

ignoras Abner filium Ner, quoniam ad hoc venit ad te ut deciperet te, et sciret exitum tuum et introitum tuum, et nosset omnia quæ agis?

Knowest thou not Abner the son of Ner, that to this end he came to thee, that he might deceive thee, and to know thy going out, and thy coming in, and to know all thou dost?

Dost thou know Abner so little? He did but come here to play thee false, spying upon thy comings and goings, learning of all thou dost.

Egressus itaque Joab a David, misit nuntios post Abner, et reduxit eum a cisterna Sira, ignorante David.

Then Joab going out from David, sent messengers after Abner, and brought him back from the cistern of Sira, David knowing nothing of it.

And Joab left the royal presence to send messengers after Abner, summoning him back, without David’s knowledge, from the Pool of Sira.

Cumque rediisset Abner in Hebron, seorsum adduxit eum Joab ad medium portæ ut loqueretur ei, in dolo: et percussit illum ibi in inguine, et mortuus est in ultionem sanguinis Asaël fratris ejus.

And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to the middle of the gate, to speak to him treacherously: and he stabbed him there in the groin, and he died, in revenge of the blood of Asael his brother.

No sooner had Abner come back to Hebron than Joab took him aside, there in the gates, under pretence of speaking with him, and smote him in the groin, avenging by that death the death of his brother Asael.

Quod cum audisset David rem jam gestam, ait: Mundus ego sum, et regnum meum apud Dominum usque in sempiternum, a sanguine Abner filii Ner:

And when David heard of it, after the thing was now done, he said: I, and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord for ever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

It was all over when David heard of it, and he cried, Never shall I or my kingdom be held answerable for Abner’s death!

et veniat super caput Joab, et super omnem domum patris ejus: nec deficiat de domo Joab fluxum seminis sustinens, et leprosus, et tenens fusum, et cadens gladio, et indigens pane.

And may it come upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father’s house: and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue of seed, or that is a leper, or that holdeth the distaff, or that falleth by the sword, or that wanteth bread.

On Joab’s head let the guilt fall, and on all his line; let the line of Joab never want a man that has a running at the reins, or is a leper, or works at the distaff like a woman, or falls in battle, or begs his bread.

Igitur Joab et Abisai frater ejus interfecerunt Abner, eo quod occidisset Asaël fratrem eorum in Gabaon in prælio.

So Joab and Abisai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother Asael at Gabaon in the battle.

Thus Joab and his brother Abisai murdered Abner, who had slain their brother Asael in the fighting at Gabaon.

Dixit autem David ad Joab, et ad omnem populum qui erat cum eo: Scindite vestimenta vestra, et accingimini saccis, et plangite ante exequias Abner. Porro rex David sequebatur feretrum.

And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him: Rend your garments, and gird yourselves with sackcloths, and mourn before the funeral of Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.

As for David, he bade Joab and his men tear their garments and put on sackcloth, and go mourning at Abner’s funeral; he himself followed the bier,

Cumque sepelissent Abner in Hebron, levavit rex David vocem suam, et flevit super tumulum Abner: flevit autem et omnis populus.

And when they had buried Abner in Hebron, king David lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner: and all the people also wept.

and wept aloud over Abner’s tomb at Hebron, where they buried him; all the people, too, were in tears.

Plangensque rex, et lugens Abner, ait: Nequaquam ut mori solent ignavi, mortuus est Abner.

And the king mourning and lamenting over Abner, said: Not as cowards are wont to die, hath Abner died.

And this was the dirge with which he lamented him: Died Abner as the ignoble die?

Manus tuæ ligatæ non sunt, et pedes tui non sunt compedibus aggravati: sed sicut solent cadere coram filiis iniquitatis, sic corruisti. Congeminansque omnis populus flevit super eum.

Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet laden with fetters: but as men fall before the children of iniquity, so didst thou fall. And all the people repeating it wept over him.

No bond tied thy hands, no gyves thy feet; thou didst fall as men fall when cruel wrong assails them. And all the people took up the refrain as they mourned.

Cumque venisset universa multitudo cibum capere cum David, clara adhuc die juravit David, dicens: Hæc faciat mihi Deus, et hæc addat, si ante occasum solis gustavero panem vel aliud quidquam.

And when all the people came to take meat with David, while it was yet broad day, David swore, saying: So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread or any thing else before sunset.

Then, while it was still full day, they came together to eat, and would have David eat with them; but he took an oath, The Lord punish me as I deserve, and more than I deserve, if I taste bread or any other food before set of sun!

Omnisque populus audivit, et placuerunt eis cuncta quæ fecit rex in conspectu totius populi.

And all the people heard, and they were pleased, and all that the king did seemed good in the sight of all the people.

This all the folk heard, and more than ever they applauded the king’s doings;

Et cognovit omne vulgus et universus Israël in die illa, quoniam non actum fuisset a rege ut occideretur Abner filius Ner.

And all the people, and all Israel understood that day that it was not the king’s doing, that Abner the son of Ner was slain.

among all that multitude, and in all Israel, there was not a man that blamed David for the slaying of Abner, son of Ner.

Dixit quoque rex ad servos suos: Num ignoratis quoniam princeps et maximus cecidit hodie in Israël?

The king also said to his servants: Do you not know that a prince and a great man is slain this day in Israel?

Past all doubt, said the king to his servants, Israel has lost, this day, the greatest of its chieftains.

Ego autem adhuc delicatus, et unctus rex: porro viri isti filii Sarviæ duri sunt mihi: retribuat Dominus facienti malum juxta malitiam suam.

But I as yet am tender, though anointed king. And these men the sons of Sarvia are too hard for me: the Lord reward him that doth evil according to his wickedness.

Alas, they have anointed a weakling to be their king; not mine to curb these sons of Sarvia. May the Lord punish the wrong-doer for the wrong done!