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.

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.

¹⁰ But Amasa did not observe the sword that was in Joab's hand. ^(A)So Joab struck him with it ^(B)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.

¹² But the man said to Joab, “Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not reach out my hand against the king's son, for ^(A)in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake protect the young man Absalom.’

⁵ And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” ^(A)And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom.

¹⁴ Joab said, “I will not waste time like this with you.” And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak.

³⁹ And I was gentle today, though anointed king. ^(A)These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. ^(B)The Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!”

⁷ For the blood she has shed is in her midst; she put it on ^(A)the bare rock; ^(B)she did not pour it out on the ground to cover it with dust. ⁸ To rouse my wrath, to take vengeance, I have set on the bare rock the blood she has shed, that it may not be covered.