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.
29. Joab and his family are responsible for this, and they will be cursed. Many troubles will come to his family. His people will be sick with leprosy, crippled, killed in war, and not have enough food to eat!”
30. Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.
31-32. David said to Joab and to all the people with Joab, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth. Cry for Abner.” They buried Abner in Hebron. David went to the funeral. King David and all the people cried at Abner’s grave.