28 David heard how Joab had killed Abner, and he said, “I swear to the Lord that I am completely innocent of Abner's death!
29 Joab and his family are the guilty ones. I pray that Joab's family will always be sick with sores and other skin diseases. May they all be cowards, and may they die in war or starve to death.”
30 Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.
31 David told Joab and everyone with him, “Show your sorrow by tearing your clothes and wearing sackcloth! Walk in front of Abner's body and cry!”David walked behind the stretcher on which Abner's body was being carried.
32 Abner was buried in Hebron, while David and everyone else stood at the tomb and cried loudly.
33 Then the king sang a funeral song about Abner:Abner, why should youhave died like an outlaw?
34 No one tied your handsor chained your feet,yet you died as a victimof murderers.Everyone started crying again.