24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone? 25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know uthy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest. 26 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. 27 And 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.

28 And 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: 29 zLet 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. 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother dAsahel at Gibeon in the battle.

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