Joab Murders Abner

2 Samuel 3

²⁶ When Joab came out from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah; but David did not know about it. ²⁷ When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gateway to speak with him privately, and there he stabbed him in the stomach. So he died for shedding ₁ the blood of Asahel, Joab's ₂ brother. ²⁸ Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner son of Ner. ²⁹ May the guilt ₃ fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge, or who is leprous, ₄ or who holds a spindle, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks food!" ³⁰ So Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.