2 Samuel 3:22

22 Soon after that, David's men, led by Joab, came back from a field assignment. Abner was no longer in Hebron with David, having just been dismissed with David's blessing.

2 Samuel 3:22 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 3:22

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.

2 Samuel 3:22 In-Context

20 When Abner and the twenty men who were with him met with David in Hebron, David laid out a feast for them.

21 Abner then said, "I'm ready. Let me go now to rally everyone in Israel for my master, the king. They'll make a treaty with you, authorizing you to rule them however you see fit." Abner was sent off with David's blessing.

22 Soon after that, David's men, led by Joab, came back from a field assignment. Abner was no longer in Hebron with David, having just been dismissed with David's blessing.

23 As Joab and his raiding party arrived, they were told that Abner the son of Ner had been there with David and had been sent off with David's blessing.

24 Joab went straight to the king: "What's this you've done? Abner shows up, and you let him walk away scot-free?