Why Slander Kills Three and How Abner ben Ner Died

And why is slander (lashon ha-ra) called "third"? Because it kills three: the one who speaks it, the one who receives it, and the one about whom it is spoken. And in the days of Saul it killed four: Doeg, who spoke it; Saul, who received it; Ahimelech, about whom it was spoken; [and Abner ben Ner]. And Abner ben Ner — why was he killed? Rabbi Joshua [ben Levi] said: because he placed his own name before the name of David. This is what is written, "And Abner sent messengers to David in his place, [saying,] To whom does the land belong?" (II Samuel 3:12) — he wrote "From Abner to David." Rabbi Simeon ben Lakish said: because he made the blood of the young men into sport, as it is said, "And Abner said... Let the young men now arise and make sport before us" (II Samuel 2:14). And the Rabbis said: because he did not wait for Saul to be reconciled with David, as it is said, "And, my father, see, yea, see" (I Samuel 24:11). Abner said to him: What do you want from a cloak? You say it was caught on a thorn. When [David] came near to the encampment, he said to him, "Will you not answer, Abner?" (I Samuel 26:14): You said the corner of the cloak was caught on a thorn — were the spear and the water-jug caught on a thorn? And some say: because it was in his power to protest at Nob, the city of the priests, and he did not protest.