22 ¶ And behold, the seruants of Dauid, and Ioab came from pursuing a troupe, and brought in a great spoile with them: (but Abner was not with Dauid in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.)
23 When Ioab and all the host that was with him, were come, they told Ioab, saying, Abner the sonne of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
24 Then Ioab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came vnto thee, why is it that thou hast sent him away, & he is quite gone?
25 Thou knowest Abner the sonne of Ner, that he came to deceiue thee, and to know thy going out, and thy comming in, & to know all that thou doest.
26 And when Ioab was come out from Dauid, hee sent messengers after Abner, which brought him againe from the well of Siriah; but Dauid knew it not.
27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Ioab tooke him aside in the gate to speake with him quietly: and smote him there vnder the fift ribbe, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28 ¶ And afterward when Dauid heard it, hee said, I and my kingdome are guiltlesse before the Lord for euer, from the blood of Abner the sonne of Ner:
29 Let it rest on the head of Ioab, and on all his fathers house, & let there not faile from the house of Ioab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staffe, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
30 So Ioab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slaine their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battell.
31 ¶ And Dauid said to Ioab, and to all the people that were with him, Rent your clothes, and girde you with sackecloth, and mourne before Abner. And king Dauid himselfe followed the biere.
32 And they buried Abner in Hebron, and the king lift vp his voice, and wept at the graue of Abner; and all the people wept.
33 And the king lamented ouer Abner, and said, Died Abner as a foole dieth?
34 Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feete put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept againe ouer him.
35 And when all the people came to cause Dauid to eate meate while it was yet day, Dauid sware, saying, So doe God to mee, and more also, if I taste bread or ought else, till the Sunne be downe.
36 And all the people tooke notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoeuer the King did, pleased all the people.
37 For all the people, and all Israel vnderstood that day, that it was not of the King to slay Abner the sonne of Ner.
38 And the King said vnto his seruants, Knowe yee not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
39 And I am this day weake, though anointed King, and these men the sonnes of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the Lord shall reward the doer of euill, according to his wickednesse.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).