Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, persuading them to bring into actualization their

desire to make David king. Abner along with twenty men, visited David in Hebron and feasted
with him. Abner then arose to gather all Israel to David and David sent him away in peace.

Shortly after then, Joab and the servants of David arrived from a raid and Joab was told that
Abner had visited and David had allowed him to go in peace. Joab then confronted David asking
him why he would allow Abner to leave peacefully knowing that he had come to deceive him.

Joab then sent messengers to get Abner with the pretense to speak with him privately. As soon
as he got the attention of Abner, he smote him in the belly so that he died. When the news got
to David, he denied being part of Joab’s plot to kill Abner and he rained curse on Joab and his
household saying may the blood of Abner fall on Joab and his father’s house; and may the house
of Joab never be without one having a discharge or who is leprous, or who holds a spindle or
who is slain by the sword, or who lacks bread!’

Then David proclaimed a national mourning for Abner, eulogizing him. The people urged David
to eat but he blatantly reused saying, ‘God do to me and more also if I taste bread or anything
else till the sun goes down’. And all the people took note of this and it pleased them.