Day 99 – 2 Samuel 3:26-30

Scripture Review

2 Samuel 3:26-30

"And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not."

(2 Samuel 3:26)

Joab comes out from David, but he does not come out with David's heart. David had sent Abner away in peace, but Joab sends messengers after him in secret. To me, that last phrase shows Joab's intention, "but David knew it not." The Holy Ghost clears David before the murder even happens. This was not David's order, David's plan, or David's hidden arrangement.

The "well of Sirah" is said have been a cistern, and Josephus placed it about two and a half miles north of Hebron, close enough for Abner to be brought back before he was fully gone.

"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)

Abner returns to Hebron, and Joab takes him aside "to speak with him quietly." Joab murdered Abner and did it with the appearance of friendliness, as though he only wanted a private word. "under the fifth rib." That phrase models back to Asahel's death in 2 Samuel 2:23. Abner had killed Asahel in battle after warning him more than once to turn aside. Joab kills Abner in peace after David had received him. Those are not the same thing. Joab wants the death to look like justice, but the Bible calls it what it is, murder for "the blood of Asahel his brother."

"And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:"

(2 Samuel 3:28)

David hears afterward. He responds after. And when he responds, he does not speak vaguely. "I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever." David is not just protecting his reputation before men. He is declaring his innocence before the LORD.This mattered for the kingdom. If Israel believed David had welcomed Abner only to have him murdered, his throne would be stained before it was fully established.

"Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread."

(2 Samuel 3:29)

"on the head of Joab." David will not let Joab's sin spread itself over the whole kingdom. He will not allow private vengeance to be confused with royal justice. The words are severe. David speaks of disease, uncleanness, weakness, violent death, and poverty. This is a solemn curse over a bloody deed.

There is a lesson here about not softening sin just because the sinner within your circle. I see this in schools all the time. The teacher's kids are the worse kids because teacher don't won't to be confrontational about their kids. It creates a difficult working environment.

"So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle."

(2 Samuel 3:30)

Now Abishai is brought into it too. Joab was not alone in the guilt. Here is why, Abner had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon. But the Spirit of God adds the important phrase, "in the battle." Asahel died in battle. Abner died by deceit. Joab and Abishai let grief become a law unto itself. They allowed family pain to overrule David's peace and God's larger purpose for Israel.

This is the danger of an ungoverned wound. Asahel's death was real. Their grief was real. But real grief does not give a man the right to sin. Joab's hand may have held the weapon, but bitterness had loaded it long before. A heart after God must refuse private vengeance, even when the pain is personal. It must not let "family" become an excuse for sin. It must not let anger do what only God and lawful justice have the right to do. Joab thought he was settling a debt. In truth, he was creating a stain.