2 Samuel 3:12-29

12Then Abner sent messengers to David in his place, saying, “Whose is the land? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you.” 13He said, “Good! I will make a covenant with you, but I demand one thing of you, 1namely, 2you shall not see my face unless you 3first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see 4me.” 14So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed 5for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from 6Paltiel the son of Laish. 16But her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her as far as 7Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” So he returned.

17Now Abner had 8consultation with 9the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you. 18Now then, do it! For the Lord has spoken of David, saying, ‘10By the hand of My servant David 11I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’” 19Abner also spoke in the hearing of Benjamin; and in addition Abner went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and to 12the whole house of Benjamin.

20Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21Abner said to David, “Let me arise and go and 13gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that 14you may be king over all that your soul desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

22And behold, 15the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much spoil with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace.” 24Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why then have you sent him away and he is already gone? 25You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you and to learn of 16your going out and coming in and to find out all that you are doing.”

26When Joab came out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know it. 27So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there 17he struck him in the belly so that he died on account of the blood of Asahel his brother. 28Afterward when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 2918May it 19fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not fail from the house of Joab 20one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who takes hold of a distaff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”