Then he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they followed and helped Adonijah.

"So now, look! Adonijah has become king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know about [it.]

"He has sacrificed oxen and fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army; but Solomon your servant he has not invited.

"And I [am] weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, [are] too harsh for me. The LORD shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness."

Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, "[Deal] gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom.

But the man said to Joab, "Though I were to receive a thousand [shekels] of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king's son. For in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, 'Beware lest anyone [touch] the young man Absalom!'

Then Joab said, "I cannot linger with you." And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom's heart, while he was [still] alive in the midst of the terebinth tree.

Then Joab came into the house to the king, and said, "Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines,

"Now therefore, arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants. For I swear by the LORD, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now."

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.

But Amasa did not notice the sword that [was] in Joab's hand. And he struck him with it in the stomach, and his entrails poured out on the ground; and he did not [strike] him again. Thus he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.

And Absalom made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa [was] the son of a man whose name [was] Jithra, an Israelite, who had gone in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother.

Also on your skirts is found The blood of the lives of the poor innocents. I have not found it by secret search, But plainly on all these things.

Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD.

For her blood is in her midst; She set it on top of a rock; She did not pour it on the ground, To cover it with dust.

That it may raise up fury and take vengeance, I have set her blood on top of a rock, That it may not be covered."