2 Samuel 3:22-30
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.
23 When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, they informed Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go on his way, and he has gone in peace.”
24 Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why then have you let him go, so that he is already gone?
25 You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to gain your confidence, and to learn of your going out and coming in and to find out everything that you are doing.”
26 When Joab left David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know about it.
27 So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the belly, so that he died on account of the blood of his brother Asahel.
28 Afterward, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
29 May it turn upon the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not be eliminated from the house of Joab someone who suffers a discharge, or has leprosy, or holds the spindle, or falls by the sword, or lacks bread.”
30 So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.
Assassination of Abner
Joab’s complaint
Joab, the commander of David’s house, returned to Hebron with much plunder. By that time, the enemy commander Abner had already received David’s blessing and departed on his way home. (1) When Joab heard that Abner had visited during his absence, had been warmly received, and had left safely, he became furious. (2) Joab immediately went to David and protested, saying that Abner had come to spy and questioned why he had been foolishly allowed to leave. The reason he said this was because, if Abner gained David’s favor, Joab’s own position as commander would be at risk. Also, he held a personal grudge, since his brother Asahel had been killed by Abner. (3) We do not know exactly how David responded, but he likely did not take Joab’s words seriously and chose to ignore them. David was a man of peace.
Assassination
(1) Joab immediately sent messengers and, without David’s knowledge, had Abner brought back to Hebron. Then, when Abner unsuspectingly returned, Joab took him inside the gate and treacherously attacked him. His brother Abishai also took part in this plot. (2) Asahel’s death occurred in battle, but Abner’s death was the result of a plot. The nature of their deaths is clearly different. Joab’s actions are, without question, subject to punishment. (3) When David heard this, he made it clear that he bore no responsibility for the matter and prayed that God’s just judgment would come upon Joab and his household. Abner was a brutal man. In that sense, his death can be seen as a judgment from God. At the same time, Joab’s brutal act also deserves judgment. However, David did not immediately take action. After David’s death, Joab supported Adonijah in the struggle for succession. Before his death, David commanded Solomon to take revenge on Joab. Solomon obeyed this command and sent Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, who struck Joab down beside the tent of the Lord. Do not take God lightly. Sinful actions are never simply overlooked. As for us, let us strive to become people who pursue righteousness and peace.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, please grant me the peace of the Lord Jesus in my heart, so that I may manage feelings of anger. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.