²⁶ After Joab left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the ·well [cistern] of Sirah. But David did not know this. ²⁷ When Abner arrived at Hebron, Joab took him aside into ·the gateway [an inner chamber]. He acted as though he wanted to talk with Abner in private, but Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and Abner died. ·Abner had killed Joab’s brother Asahel, so Joab killed Abner to pay him back [^L…on account of/to revenge the blood/killing of Asahel his brother].

²⁸ Later when David heard the news, he said, “My kingdom and I are innocent before the Lord forever of the ·death [^Lblood] of Abner son of Ner. ²⁹ ·Joab and his family are responsible for this. [^LMay it/the guilt fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house.] May his family always have someone with [running] sores or ·with a skin disease [^Tleprosy; ^Cthe term covers a variety of skin diseases that would render a person ritually unclean; Lev. 13–14]. May they always have someone who must lean on a crutch. May ·some of his family be killed in war [^Lsomeone always fall by the sword]. May they always have someone without food to eat.”

³⁰ (Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon [2:18–32].)