15. Then Ish Bosheth told the men to go and take Michal from a man named Paltiel son of Laish.
16. Michal’s husband, Paltiel, followed them, crying all the way to Bahurim. Finally, Abner said to him, “Go back home.” So Paltiel went back home.
17. Abner sent this message to the leaders of Israel. He said, “For a long time you have wanted to make David your king.
18. Now do it! The Lord was talking about David when he said, ‘I will save my people the Israelites from the Philistines and all their other enemies. I will do this through my servant David.’”
19. Abner said these things to David in Hebron, and he said these things to the people of the tribe of Benjamin. The things Abner said sounded good to the tribe of Benjamin and to all the people of Israel.
20. Then Abner came up to David at Hebron. Abner brought 20 men with him. David gave a party for Abner and for all the men who came with him.
21. Abner said to David, “My lord and king, let me go bring all the Israelites to you. Then they will make an agreement with you, and you will rule over all Israel, as you wanted.” So David let Abner leave in peace.
22. Joab and David’s officers came back from battle. They had many valuable things that they had taken from the enemy. David had just let Abner leave in peace. So Abner was not there in Hebron with David.
23. Joab and all his army arrived at Hebron. The army said to Joab, “Abner son of Ner came to King David, and David let Abner leave in peace.”
24. Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner came to you, but you sent him away without hurting him! Why?
25. You know Abner son of Ner. He came to trick you. He came to learn all about what you are doing.”
26. Joab left David and sent messengers to Abner at the well of Sirah. The messengers brought Abner back, but David did not know this.
27. When Abner arrived at Hebron, Joab met him in the gateway, pulled him aside to talk in private, and then stabbed him in the stomach. So he got his revenge against Abner. Joab killed Abner because Abner had killed Joab’s brother Asahel.
28. Later David heard the news and said, “My kingdom and I are innocent of the death of Abner son of Ner. The Lord knows this.