Joab Murders Abner

II Samuel 3:26–39
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All this time Joab has not forgotten that Abner had slain his brother. Joab took things into his own hands by having Abner return to Hebron (v. 26). Pretending to whisper something of  importance to Abner, Joab took him aside and stabbed him to death. Hebron was one of the cities of refuge where a murder was safe. In that city Joab could not have touched him, but they stepped outside the city. This was in revenge for Abner’s murder of Joab’s brother Asahel (v. 27). Abner had killed Joab’s brother in self defense but now Joab kills Abner in revenge of his brother’s death and perhaps also to save his position of military leadership. David was shocked when he heard what his general had done. He publicly proclaimed his innocence in the matter. He pronounced a curse on Joab and his descendants. He wished sickness, poverty, and hunger on Joab’s family perpetually (vv. 28-30).

The king ordered his supporters, including Joab, to publicly lament the death of Abner. David himself followed the casket to the grave. There he and all his followers wept. The king chanted a lamentation which he had composed in honor of Abner. The man had experienced a death unworthy of him. He had not died in battle, nor had he been executed as a common criminal. Abner had been treacherously murdered (vv. 31-34). After the burial, the people tried to get David to eat. He vowed he would not taste food until sundown. The people were pleased with this demonstration of grief over the murder of his former enemy. They rightly concluded that David had nothing to do with the cold-blooded murder of Abner. The king regarded Abner as “a prince and a great man” in Israel. His sense of justice called for punishment against Joab. All he could do was to call upon God to punish the evil which Joab had done (vv. 35-39).

Application

Joab took revenge for the death of his brother instead of leaving justice to God. I should always remember that God will repay those who deserve it (Rom. 12:19). Seeking revenge will only ruin my own peace of mind and increase the chances of further retaliation. Can I think of someone in my life presently that I would like to get even with and need to turn this over to the Lord?