Abner turns to David, and Joab kills him

3:1 However, the war was prolonged between the house of Saul and the house of David. David was becoming steadily stronger, while the house of Saul was becoming increasingly weaker. 3:2 Now sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born to Ahinoam the Jezreelite. 3:3 His second son was Kileab, born to Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. His third son was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur. 3:4 His fourth son was Adonijah, the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah, the son of Abitail. 3:5 His sixth son was Ithream, born to David’s wife Eglah. These sons were all born to David in Hebron. Abner Defects to David’s Camp 3:6 As the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was becoming more influential in the house of Saul. 3:7 Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you have sexual relations with my father’s concubine?” 3:8 These words of Ish-bosheth really angered Abner and he said, “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah? This very day I am demonstrating loyalty to the house of Saul your father and to his relatives and his friends! I have not betrayed you into the hand of David. Yet you have accused me of sinning with this woman today! 3:9 God will severely judge Abner if I do not do for David exactly what the Lord has promised him, 3:10 namely, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah all the way from Dan to Beer Sheba!” 3:11 Ish-bosheth was unable to answer Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him. 3:12 Then Abner sent messengers to David saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make an agreement with me, and I will do whatever I can to cause all Israel to turn to you.” 3:13 So David said, “Good! I will make an agreement with you. I ask only one thing from you. You will not see my face unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to visit me.” 3:14 David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth son of Saul with this demand: “Give me my wife Michal whom I acquired for a hundred Philistine foreskins.” 3:15 So Ish-bosheth took her from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. 3:16 Her husband went along behind her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Finally Abner said to him, “Go back!” So he returned home. 3:17 Abner advised the elders of Israel, “Previously you were wanting David to be your king. 3:18 Act now! For the Lord has said to David, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the Philistines and from all their enemies.’” 3:19 Then Abner spoke privately with the Benjaminites. Abner also went to Hebron to inform David privately of all that Israel and the entire house of Benjamin had agreed to. 3:20 When Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a banquet for Abner and the men who were with him. 3:21 Abner said to David, “Let me leave so that I may go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make an agreement with you. Then you will rule over all that you desire.” So David sent Abner away, and he left in peace. 3:22 Now David’s soldiers and Joab were coming back from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for David had sent him away and he had left in peace. 3:23 When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, Joab was told: “Abner the son of Ner came to the king; he sent him away, and he left in peace!” 3:24 So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner has come to you! Why would you send him away? Now he’s gone on his way! 3:25 You know Abner the son of Ner! Surely he came here to spy on you and to determine when you leave and when you return and to discover everything that you are doing!” 3:26 Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah. (But David was not aware of it.) 3:27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gate as if to speak privately with him. Joab then stabbed him in the abdomen and killed him, avenging the shed blood of his brother Asahel. 3:28 When David later heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord of the shed blood of Abner son of Ner! 3:29 May his blood whirl over the head of Joab and the entire house of his father! May the males of Joab’s house never cease to have someone with a running sore or a skin disease or one who works at the spindle or one who falls by the sword or one who lacks food!” 3:30 So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in Gibeon during the battle. 3:31 David instructed Joab and all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes! Put on sackcloth! Lament before Abner!” Now King David followed behind the funeral bier. 3:32 So they buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly over Abner’s grave and all the people wept too. 3:33 The king chanted the following lament for Abner: “Should Abner have died like a fool? 3:34 Your hands were not bound, and your feet were not put into irons. You fell the way one falls before criminals.” All the people wept over him again. 3:35 Then all the people came and encouraged David to eat food while it was still day. But David took an oath saying, “God will punish me severely if I taste bread or anything whatsoever before the sun sets!” 3:36 All the people noticed this and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased all the people. 3:37 All the people and all Israel realized on that day that the killing of Abner son of Ner was not done at the king’s instigation. 3:38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great leader has fallen this day in Israel? 3:39 Today I am weak, even though I am anointed as king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too much for me to bear! May the Lord punish appropriately the one who has done this evil thing!” Ish-bosheth is killed

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The war between Saul’s house and David’s house continues, but David grows stronger. Abner breaks with Ish-bosheth and seeks peace with David because he knows the Lord has promised the kingdom to David. Yet Joab, acting in revenge for his brother Asahel, tricks Abner and kills him at Hebron. David publicly rejects the murder, mourns Abner, and shows that the Lord, not treachery, is guiding the kingdom’s future.

This passage shows the kingdom moving from Saul’s house to David’s house. David is steadily becoming stronger while Saul’s house is weakening. The list of David’s sons in Hebron shows that his family is growing during this time.

Abner becomes the leading man in Saul’s house. When Ish-bosheth accuses him about Rizpah, Abner becomes angry and says he has not betrayed Saul’s house. He then says that the Lord has promised David the kingdom. Abner’s words show that he recognizes God’s purpose, not just a political change. He makes a formal agreement with David and begins to gather support from Israel.

David asks for Michal to be returned to him. This restores his connection with Saul’s house and shows that Ish-bosheth is weak. Michal is taken away from her husband, and the sorrow in that scene is not ignored.

But the peace does not last. Joab hears that Abner was sent away safely, and he suspects him. The chapter later makes clear that Joab’s real reason is revenge for Asahel. He brings Abner back by deceit and kills him at Hebron. This is a sinful and treacherous act.

David had not planned the murder. When he hears what happened, he says he and his kingdom are innocent before the Lord. He curses Joab’s house, orders mourning, and weeps for Abner. He also refuses to eat until sunset so that all Israel will know he did not approve the killing. David’s grief shows that true rule must care about justice and bloodguilt, not only about gaining power.

• The Lord is carrying out his promise to give the kingdom to David.
• David grows stronger while Saul’s house grows weaker.
• Abner recognizes that the Lord has chosen David.
• A formal agreement is made between David and Abner.
• Joab murders Abner in revenge for Asahel.
• David did not approve the killing and is innocent of it before the Lord.
• David mourns Abner and publicly shows sorrow over the bloodshed.

• Warning: revenge and deceit lead to murder.
• Warning: bloodguilt matters before the Lord.
• Promise: the Lord will transfer the kingdom to David.
• Command/response: David orders mourning for Abner and refuses food until sunset.
• Command/response: the people are shown that David did not arrange the killing.

God is moving history toward the Davidic kingdom exactly as he promised. Even through human anger, fear, and violence, the Lord’s word about David stands. This chapter shows that the kingdom is advancing by God’s providence, not by Joab’s treachery.

Do not confuse God’s work with sinful methods. A person may claim loyalty to the right cause and still act in wicked ways. This passage calls readers to value truth, justice, and clean hands. It also shows that mourning evil openly is better than hiding it. God’s purposes do not excuse revenge, lies, or bloodshed.

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