27. So Abner returned to Hebron, and Joab pulled him aside in the gateway so as to speak with him undisturbed. There he struck him in the midsection so that he died on account of the blood of Asahel, his brother.
28. Afterward when David heard of this, he said, “My kingdom and I are forever blameless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
29. May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house. May the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks food.”
30. So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he killed Asahel their brother at Gibeon in the battle.
31. David said to Joab and all of the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” As for King David, he followed behind the bier.
32. When they buried Abner at Hebron, the king raised his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all of the people wept.
33. Then, the king lamented for Abner, saying, “Should Abner have died as a fool dies?
34. Your hands were not bound,and your feet were not put in fetters;as a man falls before the wicked, so you have fallen.”And all of the people continued to weep over him.
35. Then all of the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was still day. But David took an oath, saying, “May God do to me, and more also, if I taste food or anything else before the sun sets.”
36. All of the people recognized this, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did was pleasing to all of the people.
37. That very day, all of the people, all of Israel, understood that it was not ordered from the king to have Abner the son of Ner killed.
38. David said to his servant, “Do you not understand that a great leader has fallen this day in Israel?
39. Today, I am weak, even if an anointed king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too strong for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”