The king chanted the following lament for Abner: “Should Abner have died like a fool?

Asahel chased Abner, without turning to the right or to the left as he followed Abner.

So they buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly ¹  over Abner’s grave and all the people wept too.

Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son ¹  of Abiel.

¹ Now as Saul watched David going out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the general in command of the army, “Whose son is this young man, Abner?” Abner replied, “As surely as you live, O king, I don’t know.”

David called to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Won’t you answer, Abner?” Abner replied, “Who are you, that you have called to the king?”

Then Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

Abner said to Joab, “Let the soldiers get up and fight ¹  before us.” Joab said, “So be it!” ² 

Then Abner turned and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?” He replied, “Yes it is!”

But David’s soldiers had slaughtered the Benjaminites and Abner’s men – in all, 360 men had died!

Ish-bosheth ¹  was unable to answer Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him.

When Ish-bosheth ¹  the son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he was very disheartened, ²  and all Israel was afraid.

Iddo son of Zechariah led the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Jaasiel son of Abner led Benjamin,

Then Abner spoke privately ¹  with the Benjaminites. Abner also went to Hebron to inform David privately ²  of all that Israel and the entire house of Benjamin had agreed to. ³ 

Abner said to David, “Let me leave so that I may go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make an agreement ¹  with you. Then you will rule over all that you desire.” So David sent Abner away, and he left in peace.

So when David returned from striking down the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul. He still had the head of the Philistine in his hand.

The king sat down in his usual place by the wall, with Jonathan opposite him ¹  and Abner at his side. ²  But David’s place was vacant.

Now the battle was very severe that day; Abner and the men of Israel were overcome by David’s soldiers. ¹ 

So Abner spoke again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me! I do not want to strike you to the ground. ¹  How then could I show ²  my face in the presence of Joab your brother?”

The Benjaminites formed their ranks ¹  behind Abner and were like a single army, standing at the top of a certain hill.