Bible Commentaries
2 Samuel 3

Verses 1-39

2 Samuel 3:27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

2 Samuel 3:27 “when Abner was returned to Hebron” - Comments - Hebron was a city of refugee (Joshua 21:13). Abner falsely felt safe here, so he was not on guard for Joab's murder.

Joshua 21:13, “Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,”

2 Samuel 3:31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.

2 Samuel 3:31 “And David said to Joab” - Comments - Note that Joab, the assassin, was made by David to mourn publicly at the funeral of the person he had murdered in anger. This was perhaps humiliating for Joab and a sign of the breach between David and Joab. Joab eventually joins in the rebellion of David's son, Adonijah. Solomon eventually has Joab killed, saying that he killed Abner, who more righteous than himself (1 Kings 2:32).

1 Kings 2:32, “And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.”