Death of Abner. ²² Just then David’s servants and Joab were coming in from an expedition, bringing much plunder with them. Abner, having been dismissed by David, was no longer with him in Hebron but had gone on his way in peace. ²³ When Joab and the whole force he had with him arrived, he was informed, “Abner, son of Ner, came to David, and he let him go on his way in peace.” ²⁴ So Joab went to the king and said: “What have you done? Abner came to you! Why did you let him get away? ²⁵ Don’t you know Abner? He came to trick you, to learn your comings and goings, to learn everything you do.” ²⁶ Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner to bring him back from the cistern of Sirah; but David did not know. ²⁷ When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside within the city gate to speak with him privately. There he stabbed him in the abdomen, and he died for the blood of Asahel, Joab’s brother.^{(A) 28} Later David heard of it and said: “Before the Lord, I and my kingdom are forever innocent.^{(B) 29} May the blood of Abner, son of Ner, be on the head of Joab and all his family. May Joab’s family never be without one suffering from a discharge, or one with a skin disease, or a man who holds the distaff, or one falling by the sword, or one in need of food!”^{[a] 30} Joab and Abishai his brother had been lying in wait for Abner because he killed Asahel their brother in battle at Gibeon.

^8 [a]They were at the great stone in Gibeon when Amasa met them. Now Joab had a belt over his tunic, from which was slung a sword in its sheath at his thigh; the sword would slide out downwards.^{(A) 9} Joab asked Amasa, “Is everything all right, my brother?” and with his right hand held Amasa’s beard as if to kiss him. ¹⁰ And since Amasa was not on his guard against the sword in Joab’s other hand, Joab stabbed him in the abdomen with it, so that his entrails burst forth to the ground, and he died; there was no second thrust. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba, son of Bichri.^(B)