2 Samuel 3:22-30

22Just then David’s men and Joab were coming home from a raid with a lot of goods. Abner had been dismissed, so he was no longer with David in Hebron.

23When Joab came back with the whole army, he was told, “Ner’s son Abner came to the king, but David dismissed him, and Abner left peacefully.”

24Then Joab went to the king and asked, “What have you done? Abner came to see you. Why did you dismiss him and let him get away?

25Certainly you must know that Ner’s son Abner came to deceive you, to find out about your movements and learn everything you’re doing!”

26After leaving David, Joab sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the cistern of Sirah without David knowing about it.

27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gateway as if to talk to him privately. There he stabbed Abner in the belly. Abner died because he spilled the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.

28Later when David heard about it, he said, “As far as the Lord is concerned, my kingdom and I are forever innocent of spilling the blood of Ner’s son Abner.

29May the blame fall on the head of Joab and all of his family. May there always be members of Joab’s family who have oozing sores and skin diseases, who can only work a spindle, who die in battle, and who never have any food.”

30(Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)