When Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed.
Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build
Therefore all hands will be feeble, and every human heart will melt.
We have heard the report of it; our hands fall helpless; anguish has taken hold of us, pain as of a woman in labor.
saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak.
“The king of Babylon heard the report of them, and his hands fell helpless; anguish seized him, pain as of a woman in labor.
Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.
I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged and throw him into a panic, and all the people who are with him will flee. I will strike down only the king,
And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
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