August 21 – 2 Samuel 3:26-30

August 21 – 2 Samuel 3:26-30

[26] When Joab came out from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it. [27] And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. [28] Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. [29] May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!” [30] So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

Joab carefully engineered this murder so that the killing was done outside the gate of Hebron. Since Hebron was a city of refuge, it would have been against the law for Joab, as Asahel’s blood avenger, to kill Joab inside the city. The careful plot to murder Abner outside the city of refuge made the murder all the darker. It showed Joab knew that Abner had a rightful claim of self-defense and was protected inside the city of Hebron, yet he killed him anyway.

Joab may have justified this by the thought, “I’m doing this to defend and honor my king.” But our sin and treachery never honor our King. May we remember this as we walk with our Lord.

David pronounced a curse on Joab and all his father’s house but David did not correct Joab. How often do we see sin in our own life and do not repent of this sin? Be aware and ask God for forgiveness and turn away from your sin. Truly repent.