Joab Kills Abner

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 3:22-30. Joab and David’s servants came in from pursuing a troop. They brought in great treasures which they had collected from the troops. Abner was no longer with David because David sent him away in peace.

When Joab heard that Abner had been there to visit David he was upset. Joab went to David and asked him why he sent Abner away. Joab asked David didn’t he know that Abner only came to make a league with him so he could know David’s comings and goings.

Joab left David and sent messengers to get Abner and bring him back to the well at Sirah, but David didn’t know anything about it.

When Abner returned Joab took him aside to talk to him privately. Then Joab stabbed Abner with his sword and killed him because Abner had killed Ashahel, Joab’s brother, in the battle at Gibeon.

When David heard what Joab did to Abner he said that he and his servants were guiltless of the death of Abner, the son of Ner.

David declared that the responsibility for Abner’s death would fall on Joab and his father’s house since he and his brother conspired to kill Abner in revenge for their brother’s death. They caused even more trouble for their family by taking revenge.

David had no idea what Joab’s intentions were. Had David known he may have been able to stop this from happening.

It is understandable that Joab and his brother were upset over their brother’s death, but does killing someone else resolve the issue? Could we forgive someone for doing such as this?

We are told in Romans 12:19 that vengeance belongs to the Lord, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

We are not to take vengeance into our own hands. If someone does us wrong or hurts us in some way we should turn it over to the Lord and He will take care of it. In due time, everyone will get their just rewards.

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 3:22-30

22 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
23 When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.
26 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
27 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.
28 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
29 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

Things to think about:

Where had Joab and David’s men been when Abner visited the king?

What did Joab tell David when he found out Abner had been there?

Who did Joab send to find Abner?

What did Joab do when Abner returned?

What was David’s reaction to what Joab did?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture in 2 Samuel we learn that Joab was angry with Abner because of his brother’s death. Joab took his vengeance out on Abner and killed him. You told us in the Scriptures that vengeance belongs to You and You will repay. Help us not to take vengeance into our own hands. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

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