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.