Afterwardwhen Davidheardit, he said,"I and my kingdomare innocentbeforethe LORDforeverof the bloodof Abnerthe sonof Ner.
He said,"Whathave you done?The voiceof your brother'sbloodis cryingto Me from the ground.
"Whoever shedsman'sblood,By manhis bloodshall be shed,For in the imageof GodHe mademan.
Davidsaidto him, "Your bloodis on your head,for your mouthhas testifiedagainst you, saying,'I have killedthe LORD'Sanointed.'"
"The LORDhas returnedupon you allthe bloodshedof the houseof Saul,in whoseplaceyou have reigned;and the LORDhas giventhe kingdominto the handof your sonAbsalom.And behold,you are [taken] in your own evil,for you are a manof bloodshed!"
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.
"May it fallon the headof Joaband on allhis father'shouse;and may there not failfrom the houseof Joabone who has a discharge,or who is a leper,or who takesholdof a distaff,or who fallsby the sword,or who lacksbread."
"He who strikesa manso that he diesshall surelybe putto death.
So you shall not pollutethe landin whichyou are; for bloodpollutesthe landand noexpiationcan be madefor the landfor the bloodthat is shedon it, exceptby the bloodof him who shedit.
When Pilatesawthat he was accomplishingnothing,but ratherthat a riotwas starting,he tookwaterand washedhis handsin frontof the crowd,saying,"I aminnocentof this Man'sblood;see[to that] yourselves."
