Abner Is Killed

²² Now David’s soldiers^[a] and Joab were coming back from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for David^[b] had sent him away and he had left in peace. ²³ When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, Joab was told: “Abner the son of Ner came to the king; he sent him away, and he left in peace!”

²⁴ So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner^[c] has come to you. Why would you send him away? Now he’s gone on his way!^{[d] 25} You know Abner the son of Ner. Surely he came here to spy on you and to determine when you leave and when you return^[e] and to discover everything that you are doing!”