3 ²² David's men and Joab returned from a raid bringing a great deal of plunder with them, and by this time Abner, after his dismissal, was no longer with David in Hebron. 3 ²³ So when Joab and his raiding party arrived, they were greeted with the news that Abner son of Ner had been with the king and had departed under safe conduct. 3 ²⁴ Joab went in to the king and said, 'What have you done? Here you have had Abner with you. How could you let him go? He has got clean away! 3 ²⁵ You know Abner son of Ner: he came meaning to deceive you, to learn all about your movements and to find out what you are doing.'

3 ²⁶ When he left David's presence, Joab sent messengers after Abner and they brought him back from the Pool of Sirah; but David knew nothing of all this. 3 ²⁷ On Abner's return to Hebron, Joab drew him aside in the gateway, as though to speak privately with him, and there, in revenge for his brother Asahel, he stabbed him in the belly, and he died. 3 ²⁸ When David heard the news he said, 'I and my realm are for ever innocent in the sight of the LORD of the blood of Abner son of Ner. 3 ²⁹ May it recoil upon the head of Joab and upon all his family! May the house of Joab never be free from running sore or foul disease, nor lack a son fit only to ply the distaff or doomed to die by the sword or beg his bread!' 3 ³⁰ So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in battle at Gibeon.

3 ³¹ Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him to rend their clothes, put on sackcloth and beat their breasts for Abner, and the king himself walked behind the bier. 3 ³² They buried Abner in Hebron and the king wept aloud at the tomb, while all the people wept with him. 3 ³³ The king made this lament for Abner:

Must Abner die so base a death?
3 ³⁴ Your hands were not bound,
your feet not thrust into fetters;
you fell as one who falls at a ruffian's hands.
And the people wept for him again.

3 ³⁵ They came to persuade David to eat something; but it was still day and he swore, 'So help me God! I will not touch food of any kind before sunset.' 3 ³⁶ The people took note of this and approved; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. 3 ³⁷ Everyone throughout Israel knew on that day that the king had had no hand in the murder of Abner son of Ner. 3 ³⁸ The king said to his servants, 'Do you not know that a warrior, a great man, has fallen this day in Israel? 3 ³⁹ King though I am, I feel weak and powerless in face of these ruthless sons of Zeruiah; they are too much for me; the LORD will requite the wrongdoer as he deserves.'

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Notes: This page displays the Revised Standard Version as flowing text. The katapi New Study Bible reference section has been incorporated into the page as follows: Links to parallel passages show below passage headings. Links to Old Testament quotations in New Testament verses show after the verse number.
Quotations of OT passages by NT authors can in most cases be viewed within their context of the OT passage as a whole, with the quoted text displayed in bold font, coloured blue.
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Please e-mail me. © Paul Ingram 2012.