2 Samuel 3:17-39 - The Assassination Of Abner
17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you; 18 now then do it, for the LORD has spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my slave David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines and out of the hand of all their enemies.
19 And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin, and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin. 20 So Abner came to David to Hebron and twenty men with him. And David made a banquet for Abner and the men that were with him.
21 And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king that they may make a covenant with thee and that thou may reign over all that thy heart desires. And David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
22 And, behold, the slaves of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop and brought in a great spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner, the son of Ner, came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
24 Then Joab came to the king and said, What hast thou done? Behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast let him go? 25 Dost thou not know that Abner, the son of Ner, came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in and to know all that thou doest? 26 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, who caused him to return from the well of Sirah, but David did not know it. 27 And when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly and smote him there under the fifth rib that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner, the son of Ner. 29 Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father's house and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that has an issue or that is a leper or that leans on a staff or that dies by the sword or that lacks bread. 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes and gird yourselves with sackcloth and mourn before Abner. And King David himself followed the bier.
32 And they buried Abner in Hebron, and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 33 And the king lamented over Abner and said, Abner died the death of a fool! 34 Thy hands were not bound nor thy feet put into fetters. Thou didst fall as a man falls before wicked men. And all the people wept again over him.
35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat food while it was yet day, David swore, saying, So do God to me, and more also if I taste bread or anything else until the sun is down. 36 And all the people understood, and it pleased them, for whatever the king did pleased all the people. 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner, the son of Ner.
38 Then the king said unto his slaves, Do ye not know that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? 39 And I am this day a tender anointed king, and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me; the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.