13. He said, “Good. I will make a covenant with you. I am asking only one thing from you: You shall not see my face unless you bring Michal the daughter of Saul when you come to see me.”
14. Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth the son of Saul, saying, “Give me my wife Michal whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”
15. So Ish-Bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish.
16. But her husband went with her, weeping all along after her as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go and return.” So he returned.
17. The word of Abner came to the elders of Israel, saying, “For quite some time you were seeking David as king over you.
18. So then, bring it about, because Yahweh had said to David, “Through the hand of David my servant I am about to save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.”
19. Abner also spoke privately to Benjamin. Abner also went to speak to David in Hebron, all that was good in the eyes of Israel and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin.
20. Then Abner came to David in Hebron and with him were twenty men. David had prepared a feast for Abner and for the men who were with him.
21. And Abner said to David, “Let me get up and go and gather all of Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you so you can reign over all which your soul desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he left in peace.
22. And look, the servants of David and Joab came from the raid, and they brought much plunder with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had dismissed him, and he had gone in peace.
23. When Joab and all the army that was with him came, they told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he left in peace.”
24. Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner came here to you? Why have you dismissed him that he actually went away?
25. You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you. He came to learn about your going out and coming in and to know all which you are doing.”
26. Then Joab went out from David, and he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from Bor Hasirah, but David did not know it.
27. When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to the middle of the gate to speak with him in private. Then he struck him in the stomach there and he died, for he had shed the blood of Asahel his brother.
28. When David heard this afterwards, he said: “I and my kingdom are innocent before Yahweh forever for the blood of Abner the son of Ner.