2 Samuel 3:26-30

International Children’s Bible

²⁶Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought Abner back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know this. ²⁷When Abner arrived at Hebron, Joab took him aside into the gateway. Joab acted as though he wanted to talk with him in private. But Joab stabbed Abner in the stomach, and Abner died. Abner had killed Joab’s brother Asahel. So Joab killed Abner to pay him back.

²⁸Later David heard the news. He said, “My kingdom and I are innocent forever. We did not kill Abner son of Ner. The Lord knows this. ²⁹Joab and his family are responsible for this. I hope many troubles will come to his family. May his family always have someone with sores or with a harmful skin disease. May they always have someone who must lean on a crutch. May some of his family be killed in war. May they always have someone without food to eat.”

³⁰(Joab and his brother Abishai had killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel. This was in the battle at Gibeon.)

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2 Samuel 3:26-30

New International Version

²⁶Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David did not know it. ²⁷Now when Abner^(A) returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him^(B) in the stomach, and he died.^(C)

²⁸Later, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent^(D) before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. ²⁹May his blood^(E) fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family!^(F) May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sore^(G) or leprosy^[a] or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food.”