2 Samuel 3:26-30

New American Standard Bible

Joab Murders Abner

²⁶ When Joab left David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know about it. ²⁷ So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there ^(A)he struck him in the belly, so that he died on account of the blood of his brother Asahel. ²⁸ Afterward, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. ^29 (B)May it turn upon the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not be eliminated from the house of Joab ^(C)someone who suffers a discharge, or has leprosy, or ^[a]holds the spindle, or falls by the sword, or lacks bread.” ³⁰ So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner ^(D)because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.