The war between the house of Saul and the house of David dragged on for a long time. As the days passed, David continued to grow stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul steadily grew weaker.
During this time, sons were born to David in Hebron. His first son was Amnon, born to Ahinoam of Jezreel. The second was Kileab, born to Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. The third was Absalom, the son of Maacah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur. The fourth was Adonijah, born to Haggith. The fifth was Shephatiah, born to Abital. The sixth was Ithream, born to David's wife Eglah. All these sons were born to David while he was in Hebron.
While the war continued between the two houses, Abner son of Ner was strengthening his own position within the house of Saul. Now Saul had once had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. Ish-Bosheth confronted Abner and said to him, "Why did you sleep with my father's concubine?" This accusation made Abner extremely angry. He answered Ish-Bosheth sharply, saying that he had been loyal to Saul's house, to his family and friends, and had not handed Ish-Bosheth over to David. Yet now he was being accused because of a woman. Abner went further and swore that he would do for David exactly what the LORD had promised: to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David's throne over all Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba. Ish-Bosheth was so afraid of Abner that he did not dare say another word.
After this, Abner sent messengers to David, proposing an agreement and promising to help bring all Israel over to him. David agreed, but he set one condition: Abner must bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when he came. David then sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth, demanding that Michal be returned to him, since he had paid the bride-price for her with a hundred Philistine foreskins. Ish-Bosheth gave the order, and Michal was taken from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. Paltiel followed her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim, until Abner told him to go back home, and he did.
Abner then spoke with the elders of Israel, reminding them that they had long wanted David to be their king and that the LORD had promised to rescue Israel through David. He also spoke directly with the Benjamites.
After that, he went to Hebron with twenty men to tell David everything Israel and the whole house of Benjamin wanted to do. David welcomed Abner and his men and prepared a feast for them. Abner then said he would gather all Israel so that they could make a covenant with David and place the kingdom fully under his rule. David sent Abner away in peace.
Not long after, Joab and David's men returned from a raid, bringing much plunder with them. When Joab learned that Abner had been with David and had been sent away safely, he went to the king and accused Abner of deception, claiming he had only come to spy and gather information. Without David's knowledge, Joab sent messengers after Abner and brought him back from the well of Sirah.
When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the gateway as if to speak privately with him. There, seeking revenge for the death of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed Abner in the stomach, and Abner died.
When David heard about it, he declared that he and his kingdom were innocent before the LORD concerning Abner's blood. He pronounced a curse on Joab's house, saying it should never be without suffering. This happened because Joab and his brother Abishai had killed Abner for killing their brother Asahel at Gibeon.
David then ordered Joab and all the people to tear their clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. David himself walked behind the bier. Abner was buried in Hebron, and the king wept loudly at the tomb, and all the people wept with him.
David sang a lament for Abner, saying that Abner had not died like a criminal, with bound hands or fettered feet, but had fallen before wicked men. The people wept over Abner again.
Later, the people urged David to eat, but he swore an oath that he would not eat anything before sunset. This pleased the people, and they recognized that everything the king did was good. That day, all Israel understood that David had no part in the murder of Abner.
David then spoke to his men, acknowledging that a great prince had fallen in Israel, and admitting that though he was king, the sons of Zeruiah were too strong for him. He ended by saying that the LORD would repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds.