6 During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner kept acquiring more power in the house of Saul.
7 Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah daughter of Aiah, and Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine? ”
8 Abner was very angry about Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I a dog’s head who belongs to Judah? ” he asked. “All this time I’ve been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends and haven’t handed you over to David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman!
9 May God punish Abner and do so severely if I don’t do for David what the Lord swore to him:
10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beer-sheba.”
11 Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner because he was afraid of him.
12 Abner sent messengers as his representatives to say to David, “Whose land is it? Make your covenant with me, and you can be certain I am on your side to hand all Israel over to you.”