New King James Version
2 Samuel 3:27
27Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there stabbed him in the stomach, so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother.
2 Samuel 3:27 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Now 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
- New Living Translation (NLT)When Abner arrived back at Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gateway as if to speak with him privately. But then he stabbed Abner in the stomach and killed him in revenge for killing his brother Asahel.
Context of 2 Samuel 3:27
25Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.” 26And when Joab had gone from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it. Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there stabbed him in the stomach, so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “My kingdom and I are guiltless before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”
Read all of 2 Samuel 32 Samuel 3:27 word by word
וַיָּ֤שָׁב אַבְנֵר֙ חֶבְר֔וֹן וַיַּטֵּ֤הוּ יוֹאָב֙ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ הַשַּׁ֔עַר לְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ בַּשֶּׁ֑לִי וַיַּכֵּ֤הוּ שָׁם֙ הַחֹ֔מֶשׁ וַיָּ֕מָת בְּדַ֖ם עֲשָׂה־אֵ֥ל אָחִֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And when Abnerאֲבִינֵר'abnêr 'ăbîynêr · AbnerH74
- was returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- to Hebronחֶבְרוֹןchebrôn · HebronH2275
- Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
- took him asideנָטָהnâţâh · to stretchH5186
- inתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
- inאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
- the gateשַׁ֫עַרsha‛ar · gateH8179
- to speakדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- with him quietlyשְׁלִיshelîy · quietnessH7987
- and smoteנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
- him there under the fifthחֹ֫מֶשׁchômesh · bellyH2570
- that he diedמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- for the bloodדָּםdâm · bloodH1818
- of Asahelעֲשָׂהאֵל‛ăώâh'êl · AsahelH6214
- his brotherאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 3:27
- 2 Samuel 20:9Then Joab said to Amasa, “Are you in health, my brother?” And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
- Deuteronomy 27:24‘Cursed is the one who attacks his neighbor secretly.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
- 1 Kings 2:5“Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed. And he shed the blood of war in peacetime, and put the blood of war on his belt that was around his waist, and on his sandals that were on his feet.
- Jeremiah 41:2Then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men who were with him, arose and struck Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, and killed him whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.
- Jeremiah 6:7As a fountain wells up with water, So she wells up with her wickedness. Violence and plundering are heard in her. Before Me continually are grief and wounds.
- 2 Samuel 3:6Now it was so, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul.
- 2 Samuel 4:6And they came there, all the way into the house, as though to get wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
- 2 Samuel 2:19So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 3:27
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27And 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…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-39Verses 22-39 Judgments are prepared for such scorners as Abner; but Joab, in what he did, acted wickedly. David laid Abner's murder deeply to heart, and in many ways expressed his detestation of it. The guilt of blood brings a curse upon families: if men do not avenge it, God will. It is a sad thing to die like a fool, as they do that any way shorten their own days, and those who make no provision for another world. Who would be fond of power, when a man…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 27as if to speak to him privately: Joab accused Abner of acting with deception (2 Samuel 3:25). However, Joab himself used deception when he drew Abner aside in order to kill him. on account of the blood: Joab acted according to the custom of blood vengeance (the practice of killing the person who had killed a close family member).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 24-2724-27. Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done?--Joab's knowledge of Abner's wily character might have led him to doubt the sincerity of that person's proposals and to disapprove the policy of relying on his fidelity. But undoubtedly there were other reasons of a private and personal nature which made Joab displeased and alarmed by the reception given to Abner. The military talents of that general, his popularity with the army, his influence…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 3:27
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries