2 SAMUEL LESSON 4

     We will begin this lesson in II Samuel 3:22  "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."

     We remember from a previous lesson, that Joab was the leader of
David's military. He was a very brave man. He has been off in a
battle, and has come home victor. He has brought the spoil from the
battle home with him. David was aware that Abner had killed Joab's
brother.  David may have sent Abner on this mission to get him away
from headquarters, while Abner was there. This is the first that Joab
has heard about Abner coming over to David's side. David has made the
agreement without consulting Joab. The agreement is set, and David has
sent Abner away in peace.

     II Samuel 3:23 "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."

     Joab hates Abner for killing his brother. He cannot seem to
forget that. The men heard the people of Hebron tell of the visit of
Abner. They, also, relate that David let him live. In fact, he let him
go peacefully. This has to bother Joab, who has not forgiven him for
killing his brother.

     II Samuel 3:24 "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?" II Samuel 3:25 "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."

     David had to be a tolerant king, to let his subordinate speak to
him in this manner. Perhaps, Joab thinks that David might replace him
with Abner, the military leader of Saul's army. He actually feels that
David has deliberately not told him of his plans. Joab tries to say,
that Abner cannot be trusted. Whether Joab really believes that Abner
is a spy, or whether there is a touch of jealousy, is not clear. He is
not satisfied with the way David handled Abner. He feels he had better
take care of this himself.

     II Samuel 3:26 "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."

     Joab did not get orders from David, to go after Abner. He did
this on his own. The scouts that Joab sent out told a lie to Abner,
undoubtedly. Abner would not have come back with them at all, if he
had known that it was Joab, and not David, that wanted him. The well
of Sirah, mentioned here, is about two and a half miles out of Hebron.
This is where Joab waited for him.

     II Samuel 3:27 "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."

     In a sense, Joab was paying a tooth for a tooth. His brother had
been killed by a spear going in under his fifth rib. It was Abner, who
had actually speared him. The action of Joab was an act of revenge.
The place where Joab killed him was a private place. He, possibly,
made Abner believe there was something secret he needed to talk to him
about. When they met in secret, Joab struck him under the fifth rib
and killed him.

     II Samuel 3:28  "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:"

     The fact that the leader of David's military did this, would
cause people to believe that David was in on the plot to kill Abner.
David immediately denies any part in this deceit. He places the blame
clearly at Joab's feet. This act of treachery, if it were done by
David, could cost him the agreement he had just made to be the king of
all Israel.

     II Samuel 3:29 "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."

     David is very angry with Joab, for this terrible thing he has
done. In a sense, he speaks a curse on Joab and his family. He is very
disappointed that the leader of his army would do such a thing. David
had a strong feeling of justice to all men. He had just made an
agreement, that would have brought all of Israel under him as king.
This incident could cause the other tribes not to make David their
king. David was an honorable king. He was completely revolted by the
sneaky manner that Joab killed Abner to take revenge. Joab never once
thought of the good of his country, he just wanted to get even for his
brother's murder. This terrible curse was on all of Joab's people.
They would be sickly from that day forward.

     II Samuel 3:30 "So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner,
because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle."

     This is simply a brutal revenge on Abner.

     II Samuel 3:31  "And David said to Joab, and to all the people
that [were] with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth,
and mourn before Abner. And king David [himself] followed the bier."

     The whole nation must mourn for Abner. David spoke a command, and
they must do it, want to, or not. King David showed Abner the respect
of a high diplomat in following the bier.

     II Samuel 3:32 "And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king
lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the
people wept."

     King David truly was sorry about the death of Abner. David had
given his word. Joab actually broke David's word. Abner was buried
with honor in Hebron.

     II Samuel 3:33 "And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died
Abner as a fool dieth?"  II Samuel 3:34 "Thy hands [were] not bound,
nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men,
[so] fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him."

     David gave the eulogy for Abner. The thing that disturbed David
the worst, was the fact that Abner had not been given a chance to
defend himself. He had not been tried in a court of law, and found
guilty. Joab had taken the law into his own hands. He had killed him
without a trial.

     II Samuel 3:35 "And when all the people came to cause David to
eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me,
and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down."

     David fasted the entire day, until the sun went down, to show the
sincerity of his grief over what had happened.

     II Samuel 3:36 "And all the people took notice [of it], and it
pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people."

     David's respect for Abner and his actions at his death, showed
that David was an honorable man. The people were very pleased with the
way David handled this situation.

     II Samuel 3:37 "For all the people and all Israel understood that
day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner."

     Not only did the people of Judah understand what happened was not
the wishes of David, but all of Israel realized it.

     II Samuel 3:38 "And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not
that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?"

     David speaks high praise of his opponent, Abner, here. He and
Abner had been caught on opposite sides for a long time, but they had
settled their differences and decided to live in peace.

     II Samuel 3:39 "And I [am] this day weak, though anointed king;
and these men the sons of Zeruiah [be] too hard for me: the LORD shall
reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness."

     David blames himself for being too weak to control the actions of
Joab. David tries to convince them that what Abner tried to do in
uniting them, was the right thing to do. David asks God to punish the
evil doers.

                        2 Samuel 4 Questions


1.  Where had Joab been, while David was talking to Abner?
2.  What did they bring back with them?
3.  David had sent Abner away in _________.
4.  What position did Joab have with David?
5.  Why did Joab hate Abner?
6.  How did Joab find out about the agreement David had made with
    Abner?
7.  What question did Joab ask David about this?
8.  What did Joab accuse Abner of doing, when he came to meet David?
9.  How do we know that David was a tolerant king?
10. Who did Joab send to bring Abner back?
11. Where did they bring Abner?
12. Where did Joab kill Abner?
13. Why did he kill him in the manner he did?
14. When David heard what Joab had done, what did he do immediately?
15. What curse did David speak on Joab and his family?
16. Who helped Joab kill Abner?
17. What did David command Joab and all the people to do in verse 31
18. How did David show his respect for Abner?
19. Where was Abner buried?
20. How did David show his grief over Abner at the grave?
21. Who gave the eulogy for Abner?
22. What disturbed David the worst about Abner's death?
23. What did David do all day long, to show the sincerity of his grief
    over what happened?
24. Who understood that it was not David, who ordered Abner's death?
25. What did David call Abner in verse 38?
26. Why does David blame himself for what happened?
27. David asks _________ to punish the evil doers.