2 Samuel 3
NIV
Commentaries

Show in the text

Up to 5 commentaries at a time. Each excerpt opens in full.

New International Version

2 Samuel 3:22-30

22Just then David’s men and Joab returned from a raid and brought with them a great deal of plunder. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

23When Joab and all the soldiers with him arrived, he was told that Abner son of Ner had come to the king and that the king had sent him away and that he had gone in peace.

24So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone!

25You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing.”

26Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David did not know it.

27Now 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.

28Later, 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.

29May 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 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.)

Read all of 2 Samuel 3

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 3

New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica