וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ אַבְנֵ֨ר מַלְאָכִ֧ים ׀ אֶל־דָּוִ֛ד תחתו [תַּחְתָּ֥יו] לֵאמֹ֖ר לְמִי־אָ֑רֶץ לֵאמֹ֗ר כָּרְתָ֤ה בְרִֽיתְךָ֙ אִתִּ֔י וְהִנֵּה֙ יָדִ֣י עִמָּ֔ךְ לְהָסֵ֥ב אֵלֶ֖יךָ אֶת־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
און אַבֿנר האָט אױפֿן אָרט געשיקט שלוחים צו דָוִדן, אַזױ צו זאָגן: בײַ װעמען איז דאָס לאַנד? אַזױ צו זאָגן: שליס דײַן בונד מיט מיר, און אָט איז מײַן האַנט מיט דיר איבערצודרײען צו דיר גאַנץ ישׂראל.
Rashi
In his behalf saying. From his place to say, We shall keep this [oath] by the One Who made the world.
Rashi
By He Who [posseses] the land. [This is] language [used for] an oath, By He Who [posseses] the land. Another interpretation: "Below him," [Avner] mentioned his name first in the message letter and afterwords he mentioned Dovid's name and that is why he was punished. [This is what] he wrote: From me, Avner, the general of Yisroel to Dovid, the king of Yisroel, peace salutation.
Rashi
To He who [deserves] the land. To whom the kingdom is proper for him, I am sending to him "saying, Enact a convenant, etc."