22 And look, the servants of David and Joab came from the raid, and they brought much plunder with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for hey had dismissed him, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the army that was with him came, they told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he left in peace.”

Joab Assassinates Abner

24 Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner came here to you? Why have you dismissed him that he ⌊actually went away⌋?z 25 You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you. He came to learn about your going out and coming in and to know all which you are doing.” 26 Then Joab went out from David, and he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from Bor Hasirah, but David did not know it.

27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to the middle of the gate to speak with him in private. Then he struck him in the stomach there and he died, ⌊for he had shed the blood of Asahel his brother⌋.a 28 When David heard this afterwards, he said: “I and my kingdom are innocent ⌊before Yahweh⌋b forever for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 May the blood come down on the head of Joab and all the house of his father. ⌊May the house of Joab never lack⌋c one with a bodily discharge or one with leprosy or one who grasps the distaff or one who falls by the sword or one who is lacking food.”

30 So Joab and Abishai, his brother, killed Abner because he had killed Asahel, their brother, at Gibeon in the battle.