Joab Murders Abner
26 When Joab came out from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it.
27
And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately,
1and there he struck him
2in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28
Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD for the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
29
3May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house, and may the house of Joab never be without
4one who has a discharge or who is
5leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!"
30
So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because
6he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.
David Mourns Abner
31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him,
7"Tear your clothes and
8put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner." And King David followed the bier.
32
They buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.
33
And the king
9lamented for Abner, saying,
10"Should Abner die
11as a fool dies?
34
Your hands were not bound; your feet were not fettered; as one falls before the wicked you have fallen."And all the people wept again over him.
35
Then all the people came
12to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swore, saying,
13"God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else
14till the sun goes down!"
36
And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people.
37
So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king's will to put to death Abner the son of Ner.
38
And the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?
39
And I was gentle today, though anointed king.
15These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I.
16The LORD repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!"