When Saul’s son Ishbosheth heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost his courage, and all Israel was alarmed.
I’ll attack him while he’s tired and weak, and I’ll cause him to panic. All the people with him will flee, but I’ll kill only him.
Ner’s son Abner, commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ishbosheth and brought him to Mahanaim.
When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gateway as if to talk to him privately. There he stabbed Abner in the belly. Abner died because he spilled the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.
Then the people of that region discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to continue building.
They were all trying to intimidate us. They thought we would give up and not finish the work. But God made me strong.
That is why every hand will hang limp, and everyone’s courage will fail.
Strengthen limp hands. Steady weak knees.
The king of Babylon has heard reports about them, and he loses courage. Anguish will grip him as pain grips a woman in labor.
We have heard the news about them. Our hands hang limp. We are gripped by anguish and pain like a woman giving birth to a child.
On that day Jerusalem will be told, “Do not be afraid, Zion! Do not lose courage!”