1. As the war between the royal families of Saul and David dragged on, David’s family became stronger and stronger, and Saul’s family became weaker and weaker.
2. Sons were born to David while he was in Hebron. His first son was Amnon, ⌊born⌋ to Ahinoam from Jezreel.
3. The second was Chileab, ⌊born⌋ to Abigail (who had been Nabal’s wife) from Carmel. The third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah (the daughter of King Talmai) from Geshur.
4. The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.
5. The sixth was Ithream, ⌊born⌋ to David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David while he was in Hebron.
6. During the war between the families of Saul and David, Abner strengthened his position in Saul’s royal family.
7. Saul had a concubine named Rizpah (Aiah’s daughter). Ishbosheth asked Abner, “Why did you have sex with my father’s concubine?”
8. Ishbosheth’s question made Abner very angry. “Have I been behaving like some Judean dog?” he asked. “Until now I’ve been faithful to your father Saul’s family, to his relatives and friends, and I haven’t handed you over to David. But now you charge me with a crime because of this woman.
9. May God strike me dead unless I do for David what the Lord had promised him with an oath: