²⁶ And when Joab had gone from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it. ²⁷ Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab ^(A)took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there ^[a]stabbed him ^(B)in the stomach, so that he died for the blood of ^(C)Asahel his brother.

²⁸ Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “My kingdom and I are ^[b]guiltless before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. ^29 (D)Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the ^[c]house of Joab one ^(E)who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.” ³⁰ So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother ^(F)Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.