^{28 Ref} And when David had word of it he said, May I and my kingdom be clear for ever in the eyes of the Lord from the blood of Abner, the son of Ner:

^{29 Ref} May it come on the head of Joab and all his father's family: among the men of Joab's family may there ever be some who are diseased or lepers, or who do the work of women, or are put to the sword, or are wasted from need of food!

^{30 Ref} So Joab and Abishai his brother put Abner to death, because he had put to death their brother Asahel in the fight at Gibeon.

^{31 Ref} And David said to Joab and all the people who were with him, Go in grief and put haircloth about you, in sorrow for Abner. And King David went after the dead body.

^{32 Ref} And they put Abner's body to rest in Hebron; and the king and all the people were weeping loudly by the resting-place of Abner's body.

^{33 Ref} And the king made a song of grief for Abner and said, Was the death of Abner to be like the death of a foolish man?

^{34 Ref} Your hands were free, your feet were not chained: like the downfall of a man before evil men, so was your fall. And the weeping of the people over him went on again.

^{35 Ref} And the people came to make David take food, while it was still day, but David with an oath said, May God's punishment be on me if I take a taste of bread or any other thing till the sun has gone down!

^{36 Ref} And all the people took note of it and were pleased: like everything the king did, it was pleasing to the people.

³⁷ So it was clear to Israel and to all the people on that day that the king was not responsible for the death of Abner, the son of Ner.

^{38 Ref} And the king said to his servants, Do you not see that a chief and a great man has come to his end today in Israel?

^{39 Ref} While I, though I am crowned king, have little strength, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are out of my control: may the Lord give to the evil-doer the reward of his evil-doing!