And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from
[pursuing] a troop
A troop of robbers, that made an incursion into the land, taking the advantage of a civil war between Israel and Judah; such as the Edomites, Amalekites, and especially the Philistines; which Joab hearing of went out in pursuit of them, and overtook them:
and brought in a great spoil with them;
which they took from them:
but Abner [was] not with David in Hebron:
when Joab and his army entered the city with their booty:
for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace;
he had just dismissed him, and he was gone off safely.