2 Samuel 3:22-37

22And behold, 1the 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 2your 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 3he 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. 294May it 5fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not fail from the house of Joab 6one 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.” 30So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner 7because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

31Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “8Tear your clothes and gird on sackcloth and lament before Abner.” And King David walked behind the bier. 32Thus they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at 9the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 3310The king chanted a lament for Abner and said, “Should Abner die as a fool dies?34Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put in fetters; As one falls before the 11wicked, you have fallen.” And all the people wept again over him. 35Then all the people came 12to 13persuade David to eat bread while it was still day; but David vowed, saying, “14May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else 15before the sun goes down.” 36Now all the people took note of it, and it 16pleased them, just as everything the king did 17pleased all the people. 37So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the will of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death.