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27 When Abner arrived at Hebron, Joab met him in the gateway, pulled him aside to talk in private, and then stabbed him in the stomach. So he got his revenge against Abner. Joab killed Abner because Abner had killed Joab’s brother Asahel.

David Cries for Abner

28 Later David heard the news and said, “My kingdom and I are innocent of the death of Abner son of Ner. The Lord knows this. 29 Joab and his family are responsible for this, and they will be cursed. Many troubles will come to his family. His people will be sick with leprosy, crippled, killed in war, and not have enough food to eat!”

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27 Now when Abner(A) returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him(B) in the stomach, and he died.(C)

28 Later, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent(D) before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29 May his blood(E) fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family!(F) May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sore(G) or leprosy[a] or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 3:29 The Hebrew for leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.

27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

28 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

29 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

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