2 Samuel 3:22-30

22And behold, 1the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought a large amount of plunder with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, since he had let him go, and he had gone in peace. 23When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, they informed Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go on his way, 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 let him go, so that he is already gone? 25You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to gain your confidence, and to learn of 2your 3going out and coming in and to find out everything that you are doing.”

26When Joab left David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know about it. 27So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there 4he struck him in the belly, so that he died on account of the blood of his brother Asahel. 28Afterward, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 295May it turn upon the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not be eliminated from the house of Joab 6someone who suffers a discharge, or has leprosy, or 7holds the spindle, or falls by the sword, or lacks bread.” 30So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner 8because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.