2 Samuel 3:23-33

23 When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, they told Joab, saying, "Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace."

24 Then Joab came to the king and said, "What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why then have you sent him away and he is already gone?

25 "You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you and to learn of ¹your going out and coming in and to find out all that you are doing."

Joab Murders Abner

26 When Joab came out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know it.

27 So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there ²he struck him in the belly so that he died on account of the blood of Asahel his brother.

28 Afterward when David heard it, he said, "I and my kingdom are innocent before * the LORD forever * of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.

29 "³May it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father's house; and may there not fail from the house of Joab ⁴one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who takes hold of a distaff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread."

30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner ⁵because * he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

David Mourns Abner

31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, "⁶Tear your clothes and gird on sackcloth and lament before Abner." And King David walked behind the bier.

32 Thus they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at ⁷the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.

33 ⁸The king chanted a lament for Abner and said, "Should Abner die as a fool dies?

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2 Samuel 3:23-33 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 3

This chapter begins with the continuation of the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, 2Sa 3:1; and gives an account of the wives of David, and his sons by them, 2Sa 3:2-5; of a quarrel between Ishbosheth and Abner, 2Sa 3:6-11; and of Abner's proposal to make a league with David; but David would not see his face unless Michal his wife was returned to him, who was accordingly, 2Sa 3:12-16; and of the interest Abner made with the elders of Israel in favour of David, which he reported to him, and promised to make more, 2Sa 3:17-21; but Joab returning from a pursuit, and with great spoil, just as Abner departed, and hearing of it, chided David for letting him go, and privately sent for him back, and treacherously murdered him, 2Sa 3:22-27; from which murder David cleared himself and his kingdom, and for it made dreadful imprecations on Joab and his family, 2Sa 3:28-30; and buried Abner with great lamentation, expressing much concern for his death, and the high opinion he had of him, 2Sa 3:31-39.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 8

1. Deuteronomy 28:6; 1 Samuel 29:6; Isaiah 37:28
2. 2 Samuel 2:23; 2 Samuel 20:9, 10; 1 Kings 2:5
3. Deuteronomy 21:6-9; 1 Kings 2:31-33
4. Leviticus 13:46
5. 2 Samuel 2:23
6. Genesis 37:34; Judges 11:35
7. Job 31:28, 29; Proverbs 24:17
8. 2 Samuel 1:17; 2 Chronicles 35:25

Footnotes 1

[a]. Lit "whirl"