Joab Draws Abner Aside

22And behold, David’s servants and Joab came in from a raid and brought much plunder with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, because he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

23When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, they told Joab, saying, “Abner son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he went in peace.”

24Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why is this—you sent him away, and he has gone on his way?”

25You know Abner son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to learn your going out and your coming in, and to learn all that you are doing.

26Then Joab went out from David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it.

27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab drew him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the belly, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

28Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before Yahweh of the blood of Abner son of Ner.”

29May it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house, and may there never be cut off from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or is leprous, or holds a staff, or falls by the sword, or lacks bread.

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