…Joab and David’s other officials returned from a raid, bringing a large amount of loot with them.
Pirates…
When Joab and his men arrived, he was told that Abner had come to King David and had been sent away with a guarantee of safety. So Joab went to the king and said to him, “What have you done? Abner came to you—why did you let him go like that? He came here to deceive you and to find out everything you do and everywhere you go. Surely you know that!”
Like king Hanun years later where his lack of wisdom (2 Samuel 10:1-5) eventually lead to the destruction of his country (2 Samuel 12:26-31), Joab’s actions would eventually lead to his own death (1 Kings 2:28-35). [This is the first reference to “King David”!]
When Abner arrived in Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gate, as though he wanted to speak privately with him, and there he stabbed him in the stomach. And so Abner was murdered because he had killed Joab’s brother Asahel. When David heard the news, he said, “The Lord knows that my subjects and I are completely innocent of the murder of Abner. May the punishment for it fall on Joab and all his family! In every generation may there be some man… fit only to do a woman’s work… ”
Here we see culture’s imprint! 😊 David is ever conscious of his family’s lineage and legacy before God – just like Solomon will be years later (see the 1 Kings reference above). And my own (Hebrews 11)? This won’t be the last time David gets his taste of politics (2 Samuel 14:18-24).
David sang this lament for Abner: “Why did Abner have to die…? …May God strike me dead if I eat anything before the day is over!” They took note of this and were pleased. Indeed, everything the king did pleased the people.
Proverbs 16:7. With Saul doing the same, the effect was just the opposite (1 Samuel 14:24-46). And me? What effect do my actions have on others?
The king said to his officials, “Don’t you realize that this day a great leader in Israel has died? Even though I am the king chosen by God, I feel weak today. These sons of Zeruiah are too violent for me. May the Lord punish these criminals as they deserve!”
Politics: seen with Saul in 1 Samuel 18:22-27 and Zedekiah in Jeremiah 38:19-28. Please spare me from this world, Father, I’m not made for it.