BRAGADAYJAH 915
Joab Slays Abner
Now
David received Abner and the twenty men with him, and made a feast for them,
after which Abner and his men departed stating that he would go and urge all
Israel to unite under David as king. In
the meantime. Joab with others of David’s men returned from pursing some
factions od the son of Saul and brought back with them much spoil; but when
these men of David’s returned, Abner had already left, David having sent him
away in peace. When, therefore, Joab was told that Abner had visited David, and
that David had sent him away in peace, he went to the King and asked him why he
allowed Abner to go away in peace? Joab
told the king that he was certain Abner came to him as a spy and that he had no
doubt that he had managed to deceive the king, by pretending that his intentions
were peaceable. David explained to Joab
that Abner did in fact come in peace, and pledged loyalty to him; but Joab was
not convinced; so after he left David, he sent messengers to catch up with
Abner and cause him to return to Hebron, where Joab met him privately, unknown
to David, and smote Abner beneath the fifth rib and killed him. In revenge for
Joab’s brother Asahel whom Abner had killed in a similar way. And when David
heard of the death of Abner he declared that neither he nor his kingdom were
guiltless before the Lord of the blood of Abner “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 leans on
a staff, or that falls on a sword, or lacking bread.”
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