Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there stabbed him in the stomach, so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother.

"Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father's house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread."

Your hands were not bound Nor your feet put into fetters; As a man falls before wicked men, [so] you fell." Then all the people wept over him again.

In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent [it] by the hand of Uriah.

And he wrote in the letter, saying, "Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die."

"Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, [and] what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed. And he shed the blood of war in peacetime, and put the blood of war on his belt that [was] around his waist, and on his sandals that [were] on his feet.

"Therefore do according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to the grave in peace.

And Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? [As] you live, and [as] your soul lives, I will not do this thing."

And she said, "O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I [am] the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD.

When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son [is] this youth?" And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know."

Then David took an oath again, and said, "Your father certainly knows that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.' But truly, [as] the LORD lives and [as] your soul lives, [there is] but a step between me and death."

"Now therefore, my lord, [as] the LORD lives and [as] your soul lives, since the LORD has held you back from coming to bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now then, let your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be as Nabal.

Then Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel." But Elisha said, "[As] the LORD lives, and [as] your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they went down to Bethel.

'Please let us pass through your country. We will not pass through fields or vineyards, nor will we drink water from wells; we will go along the King's Highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.' "

"Therefore you shall be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

"So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, [to] the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

"Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.

"Go to the king and speak to him in this manner." So Joab put the words in her mouth.

"Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do.

"for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.