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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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?

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?

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Et non potuit respondere ei quidquam, quia metuebat illum.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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,

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 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.

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.

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.

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;

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.

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.

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;

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?

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

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!

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?

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?

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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:

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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,

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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!