JOAB MURDERS ABNER

Passage: 2 Samuel 3:22-39

Key verse: 38,39

NIV

Joab Murders Abner

22 Just then David’s men and Joab returned from a raid and brought with them a great deal of plunder. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the soldiers with him arrived, he was told that Abner son of Ner had come to the king and that the king had sent him away and that he had gone in peace.

24 So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone! 25 You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing.”

26 Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David did not know it. 27 Now when Abner(A) returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him(B) in the stomach, and he died.(C)

28 Later, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent(D) before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29 May his blood(E) fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family!(F) May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sore(G) or leprosy[a] or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food.”

30 (Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

31 Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth(H) and walk in mourning(I) in front of Abner.” King David himself walked behind the bier. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept(J) aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.

33 The king sang this lament(K) for Abner:

“Should Abner have died as the lawless die?
34     Your hands were not bound,
    your feet were not fettered.(L)
You fell as one falls before the wicked.”

And all the people wept over him again.

35 Then they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely,(M) if I taste bread(N) or anything else before the sun sets!”

36 All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. 37 So on that day all the people there and all Israel knew that the king had no part(O) in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

38 Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen(P) in Israel this day? 39 And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah(Q) are too strong(R) for me.(S) May the Lord repay(T) the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Samuel 3:29 The Hebrew for leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

22 Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace.” 24 Then Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone? 25 You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you and to know (A)your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

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, (B)and there he struck him (C)in 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 (D)May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house, and may the house of Joab never be without (E)one who has a discharge or who is (F)leprous 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 (G)he 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, (H)“Tear your clothes and (I)put 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 (J)lamented for Abner, saying,

(K)“Should Abner die (L)as 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 (M)to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, (N)“God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else (O)till 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. (P)These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. (Q)The Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. The blood of Abner (22-3 ) Joab was very different from David. He didn't think about God or God's people. He had a personal grudge to settle. Abner had killed Joab's brother; furthermore, Abner was his biggest rival. Joab was angry when he heard that David had sent Abner away in peace, and he sent messengers to bring him back. Then, he murdered General Abner. Because of his personal grudge and his ambition, he almost destroyed the fragile unity of the kingdom. 2. David's lament (31-39) David was infuriated with Joab. But he did not let anger rule him. His grief at Abner's passing was genuine; he walked behind the bier and wept, and he fasted all day. He wrote a song of lament and sung it at Abner's funeral, and all the people wept with him. David made it clear that he had no part in Abner's murder, and the people were pleased with the king. The real concern on David's heart was the fragile union of Israel. But he still needed Joab.

Prayer: Lord, help me to put the interests of your people and your work ahead of my personal feelings.

One Word: A king who cares--and puts God first