2 Samuel 3:27–39

²⁷And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to the middle of the gate, to speak to him treacherously: and he stabbed him there in the groin, and he died, in revenge of the blood of Asael his brother.

²⁸And when David heard of it, after the thing was now done, he said: I, and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord for ever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

²⁹And may it come upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father’s house: and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue of seed, or that is a leper, or that holdeth the distaff, or that falleth by the sword, or that wanteth bread.

³⁰So Joab and Abisai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother Asael at Gabaon in the battle.

³¹And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him: Rend your garments, and gird yourselves with sackcloths, and mourn before the funeral of Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.

³²And when they had buried Abner in Hebron, king David lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner: and all the people also wept.

³³And the king mourning and lamenting over Abner, said: Not as cowards are wont to die, hath Abner died.

³⁴Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet laden with fetters: but as men fall before the children of iniquity, so didst thou fall. And all the people repeating it wept over him.

³⁵And when all the people came to take meat with David, while it was yet broad day, David swore, saying: So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread or any thing else before sunset.

³⁶And all the people heard, and they were pleased, and all that the king did seemed good in the sight of all the people.

³⁷And all the people, and all Israel understood that day that it was not the king’s doing, that Abner the son of Ner was slain.

³⁸The king also said to his servants: Do you not know that a prince and a great man is slain this day in Israel?

³⁹But I as yet am tender, though anointed king. And these men the sons of Sarvia are too hard for me: the Lord reward him that doth evil according to his wickedness.