2 Samuel 3:27-39 ▼

27 And Abner had returned to Hebron, and Joab took him to the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and he struck him there in the stomach, and he died on account of the blood of Asah-el his brother.

28 And David heard it after thus, and he said, “I and My kingdom are guiltless before YHWH, even to forever, of the blood of Abner son of Ner.

29 Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all the house of his father, and never let there fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or falls by the sword, or is lacking bread.”

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

31 And David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your? clothes, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before the face of Abner.” And King David followed after the bier.

32 And they buried Abner in Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner. And all the people wept.

33 And the king lamented over Abner and said, “As the death of a fool should Abner die?

34 Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters. As a man falls before the face of wicked men, you fell.” And all the people again wept over him.

35 And all the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was still the day, and David took an oath, saying, “So do to me God, and thus may he continue for, if before the face of the sun goes down, I taste bread or any other thing.”

36 And all the people took note, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did was good in the eyes of all the people.

37 For all the people and all Israel understood that on that day it was not from the king to kill Abner 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 am weak today, and though anointed king, these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me; YHWH shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”