2 Samuel 3:26-39

Joab Murders Abner

26 When Joab came out from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it.

27 And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, ¹and there he struck him ²in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

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

29 ³May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house, and may the house of Joab never be without ⁴one who has a discharge or who is ⁵leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!"

30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because ⁶he 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, ⁷"Tear your clothes and ⁸put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner." And King David followed the bier.

32 They buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.

33 And the king ⁹lamented for Abner, saying, ¹⁰"Should Abner die ¹¹as a fool dies?

34 Your hands were not bound; your feet were not fettered; as one falls before the wicked you have fallen."And all the people wept again over him.

35 Then all the people came ¹²to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, ¹³"God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else ¹⁴till the sun goes down!"

36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people.

37 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king's will to put to death Abner the son of Ner.

38 And the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?

39 And I was gentle today, though anointed king. ¹⁵These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. ¹⁶The LORD repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!"

2 Samuel 3:26-39 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.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Kings 2:5, 32; [2 Samuel 20:9, 10]
• 2. See 2 Samuel 2:23
• 3. See 2 Samuel 1:16
• 4. Leviticus 15:2
• 5. Leviticus 14:2
• 6. 2 Samuel 2:23
• 7. See Joshua 7:6
• 8. Genesis 37:34; 1 Kings 20:31
• 9. [2 Samuel 1:17; 2 Chronicles 35:25]
• 10. [Ecclesiastes 2:16]
• 11. 2 Samuel 13:12, 13
• 12. 2 Samuel 12:17
• 13. See Ruth 1:17
• 14. [2 Samuel 1:12]
• 15. [2 Samuel 16:10; 2 Samuel 19:22]
• 16. [Psalms 28:4; 2 Timothy 4:14]