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.

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.

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.

⁶ And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah came out from ^(A)Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he came. As he met them, he said to them, “Come in to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.” ⁷ When they came into the city, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the men with him slaughtered them and cast them into a cistern.