21. Then Abner said to David, “I will now go to assemble all Israel for my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you; you will then be king over all whom you wish to rule.” So David let Abner go on his way in peace.
22. Just then David’s servants and Joab were coming in from an expedition, bringing much plunder with them. Abner, having been dismissed by David, was no longer with him in Hebron but had gone on his way in peace.
23. When Joab and the whole force he had with him arrived, he was informed, “Abner, son of Ner, came to David, and he let him go on his way in peace.”
24. So Joab went to the king and said: “What have you done? Abner came to you! Why did you let him get away?
25. Don’t you know Abner? He came to trick you, to learn your comings and goings, to learn everything you do.”
26. Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner to bring him back from the cistern of Sirah; but David did not know.
27. When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside within the city gate to speak with him privately. There he stabbed him in the abdomen, and he died for the blood of Asahel, Joab’s brother.
28. Later David heard of it and said: “Before the Lord, I and my kingdom are forever innocent.
29. May the blood of Abner, son of Ner, be on the head of Joab and all his family. May Joab’s family never be without one suffering from a discharge, or one with a skin disease, or a man who holds the distaff, or one falling by the sword, or one in need of food!”
30. Joab and Abishai his brother had been lying in wait for Abner because he killed Asahel their brother in battle at Gibeon.
31. Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your garments, put on sackcloth, and mourn over Abner.” King David himself followed the bier.
32. When they had buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.
33. And the king sang this lament over Abner:Should Abner have died like a fool?
34. Your hands were not bound with chains,nor your feet placed in fetters;As one falls before the wicked, you fell.And all the people continued to weep for him.