3. the second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom, son of Maacah, who was the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;
4. the fourth, Adonijah, son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah, son of Abital;
5. and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.
6. During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was gaining power in the house of Saul.
7. Now Saul had had a concubine, Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbaal, son of Saul, said to Abner, “Why have you slept with my father’s concubine?”
8. Enraged at the words of Ishbaal, Abner said, “Am I a dog’s head from Judah? As of today, I have been loyal to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and his friends, and I have kept you out of David’s clutches; and today you charge me with a crime involving a woman!
9. May God do thus to Abner, and more, if I do not carry out for David what the Lord swore to him—
10. that is, take away the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish the throne of David over Israel as well as Judah, from Dan to Beer-sheba.”
11. Ishbaal was no longer able to say a word to Abner, he feared him so.
12. Then Abner sent messengers to David in Telam, where he was at the moment, to say, “Make a covenant with me, and you have me on your side, to bring all Israel over to you.”
13. He replied, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you. You must not appear before me unless you bring back Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to present yourself to me.”
14. At the same time David sent messengers to Ishbaal, son of Saul, to say, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed by paying a hundred Philistine foreskins.”
15. Ishbaal sent for her and took her away from her husband Paltiel, son of Laish,
16. who followed her weeping as far as Bahurim. But Abner said to him, “Go back!” So he turned back.
17. Abner then had a word with the elders of Israel: “For some time you have been wanting David as your king.
18. Now take action, for the Lord has said of David: By David my servant I will save my people Israel from the power of the Philistines and from the power of all their enemies.”