2 Samuel 3:27–39

²⁷And Abner turneth back to Hebron, and Joab turneth him aside unto the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and smiteth him there in the fifth rib—and he dieth—for the blood of Asahel his brother. ²⁸And David heareth afterwards and saith, ‘Acquitted am I, and my kingdom, by Jehovah, unto the age, from the blood of Abner son of Ner; ²⁹it doth stay on the head of Joab, and on all the house of his father, and there is not cut off from the house of Joab one having an issue, and leprous, and laying hold on a staff, and falling by a sword, and lacking bread.’ ³⁰And Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner because that he put to death Asahel their brother, in Gibeon, in battle. ³¹And David saith unto Joab, and unto all the people who are with him, ‘Rend your garments, and gird on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner;’ and king David is going after the bier. ³²And they bury Abner in Hebron, and the king lifteth up his voice, and weepeth at the grave of Abner, and all the people weep; ³³and the king lamenteth for Abner, and saith:—‘As the death of a fool doth Abner die? ³⁴Thy hands not bound, And thy feet to fetters not brought nigh! As one falling before sons of evil—Thou hast fallen!’ and all the people add to weep over him. ³⁵And all the people come to cause David to eat bread while yet day, and David sweareth, saying, ‘Thus doth God to me, and thus He doth add, for—before the going in of the sun, I taste no bread or any other thing.’ ³⁶And all the people have discerned it, and it is good in their eyes, as all that the king hath done is good in the eyes of all the people; ³⁷and all the people know, even all Israel, in that day, that it hath not been from the king—to put to death Abner son of Ner. ³⁸And the king saith unto his servants, ‘Do ye not know that a prince and a great one hath fallen this day in Israel? ³⁹and I to-day am tender, and an anointed king: and these men, sons of Zeruiah, are too hard for me; Jehovah doth recompense to the doer of the evil according to his evil.’

Chapter 4