2 Samuel 3:22-30

Revised Geneva Translation

²² And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from the camp and brought a great spoil with them (but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he had departed in peace).

²³ When Joab and all the army that was with him had come, men told Joab, saying, “Abner, the son of Ner, came to the king. And he has sent him away. And he has gone in peace.

²⁴ Then Joab came to the king, and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why have you sent him away, so that he is gone?

²⁵ “You know Abner, the son of Ner. For he came to deceive you, and to know of your coming out and going in, and to know all that you do.”

²⁶ And when Joab had gone out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah, unknown to David.

²⁷ And when Abner had come back to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him “peaceably”. And he struck him under the fifth rib, so that he died, because of the blood of Asahel, his brother.

²⁸ And afterward, when it came to David’s ear, he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD forever concerning the blood of Abner, the son of Ner.

²⁹ “Let the blood fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s House, so that the House of Joab is never without some who have discharges, or are lepers, or who lean on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”

³⁰ So Joab and Abishai, his brother, killed Abner because he had killed their brother, Asahel, in battle at Gibeon.