2 Samuel 3:27-39 ▼

27 When Abner (my father is a lamp) returned to Hebron (association), Joab (YHWH is father) pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel (God-made).

28 Afterward, David (beloved) heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD {YHWH} concerning the blood of Abner (my father is a lamp) son of Ner (lamp).

29 May it whirl over the head of Joab (YHWH is father) and over the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.”

30 (Joab (YHWH is father) and his brother Abishai (my father is a gift) murdered Abner (my father is a lamp) because he had killed their brother Asahel (God-made) in the battle at Gibeon (hill city).)

31 Then David (beloved) ordered Joab (YHWH is father) and all the people with him, “Tear your⁺ clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner (my father is a lamp).” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier.

32 When they buried Abner (my father is a lamp) in Hebron (association), the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept.

33 And the king sang this lament for Abner (my father is a lamp): “Should Abner die the death of a fool?

34 Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. As a man falls before the wicked, so also you fell.” And all the people wept over him even more.

35 Then all the people came and urged David (beloved) to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God {Elohim} punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”

36 All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them.

37 So on that day all the troops and all Israel (he wrestles with God) were convinced that the king had no part in the murder of Abner (my father is a lamp) son of Ner (lamp).

38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you⁺ not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel (he wrestles with God)?

39 And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah (balsam), are too fierce for me. May the LORD {YHWH} repay the evildoer according to his evil!”