2 Samuel 3:27

Contextual Overview

²²Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid and brought a large amount of plundered goods with them. Abner was not with David in Hebron because David had dismissed him, and he had gone in peace. ²² Behold, the servants of David and Yo'av came from a foray, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Aviner was not with David in Hevron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in shalom. ²² And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. ²² And look, the servants of David and Joab came from the raid, and they brought much plunder with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had dismissed him, and he had gone in peace. 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. ²² Just then Joab and David's men came from a battle, bringing many valuable things they had taken from the enemy. David had let Abner leave in peace, so he was not with David at Hebron. ²² Now David's soldiers and Joab were coming back from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for David had sent him away and he had left in peace. ²²Then the servants of David came with Joab from a raid and brought a great quantity of spoil with them; but Abner was not with David at Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. ²² And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought a large amount of plunder with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, since he had let him go, and he had gone in peace. ²² And beholde, the seruants of Dauid and Ioab came from the campe, and brought a great pray with them (but Abner was not with Dauid in Hebron: for he had sent him away, and he departed in peace)

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

took him: 2 Samuel 20:9, 2 Samuel 20:10, Deuteronomy 27:24, 1 Kings 2:5, 1 Kings 2:32

quietly: or, peaceably, Jeremiah 41:2, Jeremiah 41:6, Jeremiah 41:7

and smote: Joab was afraid that Abner, after rendering such essential service to David, would be made the general of the army; and therefore, under pretence of avenging the death of his brother, he treacherously assassinated the unsuspecting and too-confiding Abner, and such was the power of this cool-blooded and nefarious murderer, that the king dared not bring him to justice for his crime. But, while Joab's conduct cannot be too severely reprobated, the justice of God is apparent in Abner's punishment; who, from ambition, had pertinaciously, against his conscience, opposed the declared will of God; and was induced by base resentment to desert Ish-bosheth, and offer his services to David. See note on 2 Samuel 3:6, and see note on 2 Samuel 4:6.

for the blood: 2 Samuel 2:19-23

Reciprocal: Genesis 4:8 - talked Exodus 21:14 - slay Numbers 35:20 - if he thrust 1 Samuel 14:50 - the name of the captain 1 Samuel 26:5 - Abner 2 Samuel 2:22 - how then 2 Samuel 2:23 - the fifth rib 2 Samuel 3:12 - my hand 2 Samuel 3:25 - that he came 2 Samuel 4:11 - require 2 Samuel 11:16 - he assigned 2 Samuel 11:21 - Thy servant 2 Samuel 13:26 - let my brother 2 Samuel 14:19 - of Joab 1 Chronicles 11:6 - Joab 1 Chronicles 21:6 - Joab 1 Chronicles 27:21 - Abner Nehemiah 6:2 - Come Psalms 55:23 - bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days Proverbs 7:26 - General Proverbs 10:18 - that hideth Proverbs 26:26 - Whose hatred is covered by deceit Jeremiah 9:8 - one Jeremiah 41:1 - they did Hosea 6:8 - polluted with blood Matthew 26:48 - Whomsoever

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And when Abner was returned to Hebron,.... Alone, and not the twenty men with him; not to David's court, but just to the city, to the gate of it:

Joab took him aside in the gate: where he was waiting for him, and met him; this was a public place, where people were continually passing and repassing, and where courts of judicature used to be held; wherefore Abner might think himself safe here with Joab, and have no suspicion at all of his design, and shows how fearless Joab was of God or men:

to speak with him quietly; peaceably, in a friendly manner, as all his gestures towards him showed; so that Abner made no difficulty of turning aside with him, supposing he had something to communicate to him from the king, which he had forgot:

and smote him under the fifth [rib], that he died; in the same place that Abner had smote his brother, of which see 2 Samuel 2:23; and this he did:

for the blood of Asahel his brother; for Abner's shedding his brother's blood; but this was not the only reason, and perhaps not the chief; but, as Josephus h observes, because he was fearful if Abner was received into the friendship of the king, he would be preferred unto him, and take his place as general of the army, as being an older and more experienced officer; so Procopius Gazaeus, and Theodoret.

h Antiqu. l. 7. c. 1. sect. 5.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 3:27. And smote him there — Joab feared that, after having rendered such essential services to David, Abner would be made captain of the host: he therefore determined to prevent it by murdering the man, under pretense of avenging the death of his brother Asahel.

The murder, however, was one of the most unprovoked and wicked: and such was the power and influence of this nefarious general, that the king dared not to bring him to justice for his crime. In the same way he murdered Amasa, a little time afterwards. See 2 Samuel 20:10. Joab was a cool-blooded, finished murderer. "Treason and murder ever keep together, like two yoke-devils."