1
Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
2
Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
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his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;
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the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
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and the sixth, Ithream, by David's wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.
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Now it was so, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul.
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And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?"
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Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, "Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman?
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May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David as the Lord has sworn to him--
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to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba."
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And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.