"Now you alsoknowwhatJoabthe sonof Zeruiahdidto me, whathe didto the twocommandersof the armiesof Israel,to Abnerthe sonof Ner,and to Amasathe sonof Jether,whom he killed;he also shedthe bloodof warin peace.And he putthe bloodof waron his beltabout his waist,and on his sandalson his feet.
AbsalomsetAmasaoverthe armyin placeof Joab.Now Amasawas the sonof a manwhose namewas Ithrathe Israelite,whowentin to Abigailthe daughterof Nahash,sisterof Zeruiah,Joab'smother.
The mansaidto Joab,"Even ifI should receivea thousand[pieces of] silverin my hand,I would not putout my handagainstthe king'sson;for in our hearingthe kingchargedyou and Abishaiand Ittai,saying,Protectfor me the youngmanAbsalom!'
Then Joabsaid,"I will not wastetimeherewith you." So he tookthreespearsin his handand thrustthem through the heartof Absalomwhile he was yetalivein the midstof the oak.
The kingchargedJoaband Abishaiand Ittai,saying,"[Deal] gentlyfor my sake with the youngmanAbsalom."And allthe peopleheardwhen the kingchargedallthe commandersconcerningAbsalom.
And Joabthe sonof Zeruiahand the servantsof Davidwentout and metthem by the poolof Gibeon;and they satdown,oneon the onesideof the pooland the otheron the othersideof the pool.
Now the threesonsof Zeruiahwere there,Joaband Abishaiand Asahel;and Asahel[was] [as] swift-footedas oneof the gazelleswhichis in the field.
But Amasawas not on guardagainst the swordwhichwas in Joab'shandso he struckhim in the bellywith it and pouredout his inwardpartson the ground,and did not [strike] him again,and he died.Then Joaband Abishaihis brotherpursuedShebathe sonof Bichri.
So when Abnerreturnedto Hebron,Joabtookhim asideinto the middleof the gateto speakwith him privately,and therehe struckhim in the bellyso that he diedon account of the bloodof Asahelhis brother.
"I am weaktoday,though anointedking;and thesementhe sonsof Zeruiahare toodifficultfor me. May the LORDrepaythe evildoeraccording to his evil."
He had conferredwith Joabthe sonof Zeruiahand with Abiatharthe priest;and followingAdonijahthey helpedhim.
"The LORDwill returnhis bloodon his own head,becausehe fellupon twomenmorerighteousand betterthanhe and killedthem with the sword,while my fatherDaviddid not know[it]: Abnerthe sonof Ner,commanderof the armyof Israel,and Amasathe sonof Jether,commanderof the armyof Judah.
"Alsoon your skirtsis foundThe lifebloodof the innocentpoor;You did not findthem breakingin. But in spiteof allthesethings,
"Were they ashamedbecauseof the abominationthey have done?They were not evenashamedat all;They did not evenknowhow to blush.Thereforethey shall fallamong those who fall;At the timethat I punishthem, They shall be castdown,"saysthe LORD.
NowJohnhimselfhada garmentof camel'shairand a leatherbeltaroundhis waist;and his foodwas locustsand wildhoney.
Cursedis he who strikeshis neighborin secret.'And allthe peopleshall say,'Amen.'
