Shmuel Bais 3:26

26 And when Yoav was come out from Dovid, he sent malachim after Avner, which brought him back from the well of Sirah; but Dovid knew it not.

Shmuel Bais 3:26 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 3:26

And when Joab was come out from David
Which perhaps he did at once, as soon as ever he had spoken his mind, and flew out of the room in a great passion, not waiting for the king's answer, since we read of none returned; though it may be the king disdained to give him one, or cared not to confer with him while in his passion, until it subsided; or chose not to provoke him more, for it is plain he had great power over him; which generals of armies at this time very much assumed, see ( 2 Samuel 3:39 ) ;

he sent messengers after Abner;
in the name of the king, as Abarbinel rightly supposes, and so Josephus ^F6; for otherwise it can hardly be thought he would have returned on a message from Joab only, who he knew bore him ill will:

which brought him again from the well of Sirah;
which might have its name from the thorns and briers that grew about it. Josephus ^F7 calls it Besira, and says it was twenty furlongs or two and an half miles from Hebron:

but David [knew] it not;
that Joab had sent messengers in his name after Abner to fetch him back; it was not done by his order, with his consent or knowledge; this is observed, to clear David from any concern in the death of Abner, as follows.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 1. sect. 5.
F7 Ibid.

Shmuel Bais 3:26 In-Context

24 Then Yoav came to HaMelech, and said, What hast thou done? Hinei, Avner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?

25 Thou knowest Avner Ben Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to have da’as of thy going out and thy coming in, and to have da’as of all that thou doest.

26 And when Yoav was come out from Dovid, he sent malachim after Avner, which brought him back from the well of Sirah; but Dovid knew it not.

27 And when Avner was returned to Chevron, Yoav took him aside in the sha’ar to speak with him privately, and struck him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the dahm of Asahel his brother.

28 And afterward when Dovid heard it, he said, I and my mamlachah are naki (innocent) before Hashem ad olam from the dahm of Avner Ben Ner;