2 Samuel 3:27-39

27 Now when Abner 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 in the stomach, and he died.

28 Later, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.

29 May his blood fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family! May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sore 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 and walk in mourning in front of Abner.” King David himself walked behind the bier.

32 They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.

33 The king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner have died as the lawless die?

34 Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. 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, if I taste bread 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 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 in Israel this day?

39 And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”

2 Samuel 3:27-39 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. 2 Samuel 2:8; 2 Samuel 4:1; 1 Kings 2:5,32
• 2. S Exodus 21:14; S Judges 3:21; S 2 Samuel 2:23
• 3. 2 Samuel 2:22; 2 Samuel 20:9-10; 1 Kings 2:5
• 4. ver 37; Deuteronomy 21:9
• 5. S Leviticus 20:9
• 6. 1 Kings 2:31-33
• 7. S Leviticus 15:2
• 8. 2 Samuel 1:2,11; Psalms 30:11; Psalms 35:13; Psalms 69:11; Isaiah 20:2
• 9. S Genesis 37:34
• 10. S Numbers 14:1; Proverbs 24:17
• 11. S Genesis 50:10; 2 Samuel 1:17
• 12. Job 36:8; Psalms 2:3; Psalms 149:8; Isaiah 45:14; Nahum 3:10
• 13. S Ruth 1:17; 1 Samuel 3:17
• 14. S 1 Samuel 31:13; 2 Samuel 1:12; 2 Samuel 12:17; Jeremiah 16:7
• 15. S ver 28
• 16. 2 Samuel 1:19
• 17. S 2 Samuel 2:18
• 18. 2 Samuel 16:9; 2 Samuel 18:11
• 19. S Judges 18:26; 2 Samuel 19:5-7
• 20. 1 Kings 2:32; 1Ki 2:5-6,33-34; Psalms 41:10; Psalms 101:8

Footnotes

• [a]. The Hebrew for "leprosy" was used for various diseases affecting the skin.