²⁶ As soon as Joab left David, Joab^[a] sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah, but David was not aware of this. ²⁷ When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab brought him aside within the gateway to talk to him alone and then stabbed him in the abdomen.^[b] So he died for shedding^[c] the blood of Joab’s^[d] brother Asahel.

²⁸ Later on, David found out about it and proclaimed, “Let me and my kingdom remain guiltless forever in the Lord’s presence for the death^[e] of Ner’s son Abner. ²⁹ May judgment^[f] rest on Joab’s head and on his father’s entire household. May Joab’s dynasty never be without one who has a discharge,^[g] who is a leper, who walks with a cane,^[h] who commits suicide,^[i] or who lacks food!” ³⁰ He said this^[j] because Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner after he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.