27. When Abner arrived in Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gate, as though he wanted to speak privately with him, and there he stabbed him in the belly. And so Abner was murdered because he had killed Joab's brother Asahel.
28. When David heard the news, he said, “The Lord knows that my subjects and I are completely innocent of the murder of Abner.
29. May the punishment for it fall on Joab and all his family! In every generation may there be some man in his family who has gonorrhoea or a dreaded skin disease or is fit only to do a woman's work or is killed in battle or hasn't enough to eat!”
30. So Joab and his brother Abishai took revenge on Abner for killing their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.
31. Then David ordered Joab and his men to tear their clothes, wear sackcloth, and mourn for Abner. And at the funeral King David himself walked behind the coffin.
32. Abner was buried at Hebron, and the king wept aloud at the grave, and so did all the people.
33. David sang this lament for Abner:“Why did Abner have to die like a fool?