²²Just then Joab and David’s men came from a battle, bringing many valuable things they had taken from the enemy. David had let Abner leave in peace, so he was not with David at Hebron. ²³When Joab and all his army arrived at Hebron, the army said to Joab, “Abner son of Ner came to King David, and David let him leave in peace.”

²⁴Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he’s gone. ²⁵You know Abner son of Ner! He came to trick you! He came to learn about everything you are doing!”

²⁶After Joab left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know this. ²⁷When Abner arrived at Hebron, Joab took him aside into the gateway. He acted as though he wanted to talk with Abner in private, but Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and Abner died. Abner had killed Joab’s brother Asahel, so Joab killed Abner to pay him back.

²⁸Later when David heard the news, he said, “My kingdom and I are innocent forever of the death of Abner son of Ner. The Lord knows this. ²⁹Joab and his family are responsible for this. May his family always have someone with sores or with a skin disease. May they always have someone who must lean on a crutch. May some of his family be killed in war. May they always have someone without food to eat.”

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

³¹Then David said to Joab and to all the people with Joab, “Tear your clothes and put on rough cloth to show how sad you are. Cry for Abner.” King David himself followed the body of Abner. ³²They buried Abner in Hebron, and David and all the people cried at Abner’s grave.

³³King David sang this funeral song for Abner.

“Did Abner die like a fool?

³⁴His hands were not tied.

His feet were not in chains.

He fell at the hands of evil men.”

Then all the people cried again for Abner. ³⁵They came to encourage David to eat while it was still day. But he made a promise, saying, “May God punish me terribly if I eat bread or anything else before the sun sets!”

³⁶All the people saw what happened, and they agreed with what the king was doing, just as they agreed with everything he did. ³⁷That day all the people of Judah and Israel understood that David did not order the killing of Abner son of Ner.

³⁸David said to his officers, “You know that a great man died today in Israel. ³⁹Even though I am the appointed king, I feel empty. These sons of Zeruiah are too much for me. May the Lord give them the punishment they should have.”

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