When Abner arrived in Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gate, as though he wanted to speak privately with him, and there he stabbed him in the stomach. And so Abner was murdered because he had killed Joab's brother Asahel.

But Absalom said, "Well, then, will you at least let my brother Amnon come?" "Why should he?" the king asked.

and instructed his servants: "Notice when Amnon has had too much to drink, and then when I give the order, kill him. Don't be afraid. I will take the responsibility myself. Be brave and don't hesitate!"

Joab said to Amasa, "How are you, my friend?" and took hold of his beard with his right hand in order to kiss him.

Amasa was not on guard against the sword that Joab was holding in his other hand, and Joab stabbed him in the belly, and his insides spilled out on the ground. He died immediately, and Joab did not have to strike again. Then Joab and his brother Abishai went on after Sheba.

So Sanballat and Geshem sent me a message, suggesting that I meet with them in one of the villages in the Plain of Ono. This was a trick of theirs to try to harm me.

Their speech is wicked and full of lies; they no longer do what is wise and good.

His words were smoother than cream, but there was hatred in his heart; his words were as soothing as oil, but they cut like sharp swords.

A hypocrite hides hate behind flattering words.

He may disguise his hatred, but everyone will see the evil things he does.

In these times sons treat their fathers like fools, daughters oppose their mothers, and young women quarrel with their mothers-in-law; your enemies are the members of your own family.

But Jesus said, "Judas, is it with a kiss that you betray the Son of Man?"

Sir, I had two sons, and one day they got into a quarrel out in the fields, where there was no one to separate them, and one of them killed the other.

Then face the world again, firm and courageous.

Who has the right to go up the LORD's hill? Who may enter his holy Temple?

The LORD will bless them and save them; God will declare them innocent.

O God, how I wish you would kill the wicked! How I wish violent people would leave me alone!

As a result, the punishment for the murder of all innocent people will fall on you, from the murder of innocent Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the Temple and the altar.

from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the Holy Place. Yes, I tell you, the people of this time will be punished for them all!

We must not be like Cain; he belonged to the Evil One and murdered his own brother Abel. Why did Cain murder him? Because the things he himself did were wrong, and the things his brother did were right.

We know that we have left death and come over into life; we know it because we love others. Those who do not love are still under the power of death.

How terrible for them! They have followed the way that Cain took. For the sake of money they have given themselves over to the error that Balaam committed. They have rebelled as Korah rebelled, and like him they are destroyed.