1. Now there was long milchamah between the Bais Sha'ul and the Bais Dovid; but Dovid grew stronger and stronger, and the Bais Sha'ul grew weaker and weaker.
2. And unto Dovid were banim born in Chevron; and his bechor was Amnon, of Achinoam the Yizre'elit;
3. And his second, Kile'av, of Avigal eshet Naval the Carmeli; and the third, Avshalom ben Maachah bat Talmai Melech Geshur;
4. And the fourth, Adoniyah Ben Chaggit; and the fifth, Shephatyah Ben Avital;
5. And the sixth, Yitre'am, by Eglah eshet Dovid. These were born to Dovid in Chevron.
6. And it came to pass, while there was milchamah between the Bais Sha'ul and the Bais Dovid, that Avner was strengthening his grip on the Bais Sha'ul.
7. And Sha'ul had a pilegesh (concubine), whose shem was Ritzpah Bat Ayah; and he [Ishboshet] said to Avner, why hast thou gone in unto pilegesh avi?
8. Then was Avner very angry at the devarim of Ishboshet, and said, Am I Yehudah's rosh kelev? Today do I show chesed unto the Bais Sha'ul avicha, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the yad Dovid, and then thou chargest me today with an avon concerning this isha?
9. So do Elohim to Avner, and more also! As Hashem hath sworn to Dovid, even so I do for him [Dovid];