his hands in war. But he added, that "God, who hath a regard to all
men's actions, will not suffer this man [Joab] to go off unrevenged; but
know ye, that I am not able to do any thing to these sons of Zeruiah,
Joab and Abishai, who have more power than I have; but God will requite
their insolent attempts upon their own heads." And this was the fatal
conclusion of the life of Abner.

CHAPTER 2. That Upon The Slaughter Of Ishbosheth By The Treachery Of His
Friends, David Received The Whole Kingdom.

1. When Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, had heard of the death of Abner,
he took it to heart to be deprived of a man that was of his kindred, and
had indeed given him the kingdom, but was greatly afflicted, and Abner's
death very much troubled him; nor did he himself outlive any long time,
but was treacherously set upon by the sons of Rimmon, [Baanah and Rechab
were their names,] and was slain by them; for these being of a family of
the Benjamites, and of the first rank among them, thought that if they
should slay Ishbosheth, they should obtain large presents from David,
and be made commanders by him, or, however, should have some other trust
committed to them. So when they once found him alone, and asleep at
noon, in an upper room, when none of his guards were there, and when the
woman that kept the door was not watching, but was fallen asleep also,
partly on account of the labor she had undergone, and partly on
account of the heat of the day, these men went into the room in which
Ishbosheth, Saul's son, lay asleep, and slew him; they also cut off
his head, and took their journey all that night, and the next day, as
supposing themselves flying away from those they had injured, to one
that would accept of this action as a favor, and would afford them
security. So they came to Hebron, and showed David the head of
Ishbosheth, and presented themselves to him as his well-wishers, and
such as had killed one that was his enemy and antagonist. Yet David did
not relish what they had done as they expected, but said to them, "You
vile wretches, you shall immediately receive the punishment you deserve.
Did not you know what vengeance I executed on him that murdered Saul,
and brought me his crown of gold, and this while he who made this
slaughter did it as a favor to him, that he might not be caught by his
enemies? Or do you imagine that I am altered in my disposition, and
suppose that I am not the same man I then was, but am please