2 Samuel 3:27-39

27So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there 1he 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. 292May it 3fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not fail from the house of Joab 4one 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 5because 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, “6Tear 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 7the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 338The 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 9wicked, you have fallen.” And all the people wept again over him. 35Then all the people came 10to 11persuade David to eat bread while it was still day; but David vowed, saying, “12May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else 13before the sun goes down.” 36Now all the people took note of it, and it 14pleased them, just as everything the king did 15pleased 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. 38Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39I am 16weak today, though anointed king; and these men 17the sons of Zeruiah are too difficult for me. 18May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil.”