nds
of the Philistines, and of all their enemies.

3:19. And Abner spoke also to Benjamin. And he went to speak to David in
Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to all Benjamin.

3:20. And he came to David in Hebron with twenty men: and David made a
feast for Abner, and his men that came with him.

3:21. And Abner said to David: I will rise, that I may gather all Israel
unto thee my lord the king, and may enter into a league with thee, and
that thou mayst reign over all as thy soul desireth. Now when David had
brought Abner on his way, and he was gone in peace,

3:22. Immediately, David's servants and Joab came, after having slain
the robbers, with an exceeding great booty. And Abner was not with David
in Hebron, for he had now sent him away, and he was gone in peace.

3:23. And Joab and all the army that was with him, came afterwards: and
it was told Joab, that Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he
hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

3:24. And Joab went in to the king, and said: What hast thou done?
Behold Abner came to thee: Why didst thou send him away, and he is gone
and departed?

3:25. Knowest thou not Abner the son of Ner, that to this end he came to
thee, that he might deceive thee, and to know thy going out, and thy
coming in, and to know all thou dost?

3:26. Then Joab going out from David, sent messengers after Abner, and
brought him back from the cistern of Sira, David knowing nothing of it.

3:27. And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to the
middle of the gate, to speak to him treacherously: and he stabbed him
there in the groin, and he died, in revenge of the blood of Asael his
brother.

3:28. And when David heard of it, after the thing was now done, he said:
I, and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord for ever of the blood of
Abner the son of Ner:

3:29. And may it come upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father's
house: and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an
issue of seed, or that is a leper, or that holdeth the distaff, or that
falleth by the sword, or that wanteth bread.

3:30. So Joab and Abisai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed
their brother Asael at Gabaon in the battle.

3:31. And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him:
Rend your garments, and gird yourselves with sackcloths, and mourn
before the funeral of Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.

3:32. And when th