19. Abner also said these things to the people of Benjamin. He then went to Hebron to tell David what the Benjaminites and Israel wanted to do.
20. Abner came with 20 men to David at Hebron. There David prepared a feast for them.
21. Then Abner said to David, “My master and king, I will go and bring all the Israelites to you. Then they will make an agreement with you. You will rule over all Israel as you wanted.” So David let Abner go, and he left in peace.
22. Just then Joab and David’s men came from a battle. They had many valuable things they had taken from the enemy. David had let Abner leave in peace. So he was not with David at Hebron.
23. Joab and all his army arrived at Hebron. The army said to Joab, “Abner son of Ner came to King David. And David let him leave in peace.”
24. Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he’s gone.
25. You know Abner son of Ner! He came to trick you! He came to learn about everything you are doing!”
26. Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought Abner back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know this.
27. When Abner arrived at Hebron, Joab took him aside into the gateway. Joab acted as though he wanted to talk with him in private. But Joab stabbed Abner in the stomach, and Abner died. Abner had killed Joab’s brother Asahel. So Joab killed Abner to pay him back.
28. Later David heard the news. He said, “My kingdom and I are innocent forever. We did not kill Abner son of Ner. The Lord knows this.
29. Joab and his family are responsible for this. I hope many troubles will come to his family. May his family always have someone with sores or with a harmful skin disease. May they always have someone who must lean on a crutch. May some of his family be killed in war. May they always have someone without food to eat.”
30. (Joab and his brother Abishai had killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel. This was in the battle at Gibeon.)
31. Then David spoke to Joab and to all the people with Joab. He said, “Tear your clothes and put on rough cloth to show how sad you are. Cry for Abner.” King David himself followed behind the body of Abner.
32. So they buried Abner in Hebron. David and all the people cried at Abner’s grave.
33. King David sang this funeral song for Abner.“Did Abner die like a foolish man?
34. His hands were not tied.His feet were not in chains.He fell as a person falls before evil men.”Then all the people cried again for Abner.