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27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gateway as if to talk to him privately. There he stabbed Abner in the belly. Abner died because he spilled the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.

28 Later when David heard about it, he said, “As far as Yahweh is concerned, my kingdom and I are forever innocent of spilling the blood of Ner’s son Abner. 29 May the blame fall on the head of Joab and all of his family. May there always be members of Joab’s family who have oozing sores and skin diseases, who can only work a spindle,[a] who die in battle, and who never have any food.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 3:29 Spinning yarn and thread was normally done only by women and therefore was something only the weakest of men would do.

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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