³² The Lord will ^(A)bring back his bloody deeds on his own head, because, without the knowledge of my father David, he attacked and killed with the sword two men ^(B)more righteous and better than himself, ^(C)Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and ^(D)Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah.

^24 (A)that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.

^13 (A)but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel and have enticed Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem ^(B)into whoredom, ^(C)as the house of Ahab led Israel into whoredom, and also you ^(D)have killed your brothers, of your father's house, who were better than you,

⁵⁷ And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads, and upon them came ^(A)the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

⁵ “Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah ^(A)did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, ^(B)Abner the son of Ner, ^(C)and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging^[a] in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war^[b] on the belt around his^[c] waist and on the sandals on his feet.

⁹ And Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand ^(A)to kiss him. ¹⁰ But Amasa did not observe the sword that was in Joab's hand. ^(B)So Joab struck him with it ^(C)in the stomach and spilled his entrails to the ground without striking a second blow, and he died.

Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.

Joab Murders Abner

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 And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, ^(A)and there he struck him ^(B)in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

¹⁹ If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so ^(A)that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.