2 Samuel 3:27–39

²⁷And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab ^xtook him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there ^yunder the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

²⁸And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner: ^29zlet it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one ^athat hath an issue, or ^bthat is a leper, or that leaneth on ^ca staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread. ³⁰So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother ^dAsahel at Gibeon in the battle.

³¹And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, ^eRent your clothes, and ^fgird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. ³²And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lift up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. ³³And the king ^glamented over Abner, and said,

Died Abner as a ^hfool dieth?

³⁴Thy hands were not bound,

Nor thy feet put into fetters:

As a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou.

And all the people wept again over him. ³⁵And when all the people came ⁱto cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, ^jSo do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, ^ktill the sun be down. ³⁶And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did, pleased all the people. ³⁷For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner. ³⁸And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? ³⁹And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men ^lthe sons of Zeruiah ^mbe too hard for me: ⁿthe Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

IV.