As a Fool Dieth December 8^th 2002

2 Samuel 2:18-24,

And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. [19] And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. [20] Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am. [21] And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. [22] And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother? [23] Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still. [24] Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

2 Samuel 3:22-34,

And, Behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. [23] When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace. [24] Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone? [25] Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest. [26] And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. [27] And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

[28] And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner: [29] Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread. [30] So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

[31] And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. [32] And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. [33] And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? [34] Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.

Joshua 21:13a,

Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer;

Acts 26:28,

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

Luke 13:27,

But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

2 Tim. 4:10,

For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

1 Kings 18:21,

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

2 Cor. 13:8

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

Joshua 24:15,

as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Psalm 142:4

I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

Romans 9:3

For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

Romans 10:1,

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

1 Cor. 3:15,

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.