II Samuel 3:22-39
“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. 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.
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? 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.” (II Samuel 3:22-25)
Joab had been leading the army in pursuit of a band of raiders. When he returned, he was upset to find out that David had met with Abner, accusing him of treachery. While he may have believed this, he was more concerned with getting even for the death of his brother Asahel and not losing his own influence with David.
“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.
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.” (II Samuel 3:26-27)
Purporting to be acting on David’s behalf, Joab sent messengers to catch Abner and convince him to return, unbeknownst to David. When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab persuaded him to go outside the gate pretending to have a secret message. He then stabbed him for having caused the death of Asahel.
“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: 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.” (II Samuel 3:28-29)
Under the Law, Joab was permitted to kill Abner because he had caused Asahel’s death, even though unintentional if he didn’t stay in one of the cities of refuge. Technically, Joab was within the law, although his actions were unacceptable. David asked that Joab’s family be cursed for having abused the law in such a fashion.
“So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
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. 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.” (II Samuel 3:30-32)
David pronounced a day of mourning for Abner, demanding that Joab and the army acknowledge his death. It probably didn’t please Joab.
“And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? 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.” (II Samuel 3:33-34)
As David pointed out, Abner’s death was his own fault, even though Joab killed him. He knew that the law permitted Joab and Abishai to kill him. He also knew Hebron was one of the cities of refuge, and as long as he was inside it, Joab could not legally harm him, yet he voluntarily went outside the gates to talk to Joab. He could have insisted they go somewhere inside the gates and been safe. It was a foolish decision that cost him his life.
“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.
And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.” (II Samuel 3:36-37)
David’s obvious grief over Abner’s death, and his refusal to eat or celebrate in any way further endeared him to the people.
“And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? 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.” (II Samuel 3:38-39)
David reminded his people of the greatness of Abner, that he had served and led the army well for many years, and that though he was king, he was unable to take any action against his killers. All he could do about it was to let God repay them for such wicked, albeit legal behavior.
It is important that we understand that just because something is legal does not make it right. As Christians, we are to focus on what is right, rather than what is legal. II Corinthians 3:6 speaks of God, “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” The letter of the law let Joab get away with murder.
“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. 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.
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? 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.” (II Samuel 3:22-25)
Joab had been leading the army in pursuit of a band of raiders. When he returned, he was upset to find out that David had met with Abner, accusing him of treachery. While he may have believed this, he was more concerned with getting even for the death of his brother Asahel and not losing his own influence with David.
“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.
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.” (II Samuel 3:26-27)
Purporting to be acting on David’s behalf, Joab sent messengers to catch Abner and convince him to return, unbeknownst to David. When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab persuaded him to go outside the gate pretending to have a secret message. He then stabbed him for having caused the death of Asahel.
“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: 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.” (II Samuel 3:28-29)
Under the Law, Joab was permitted to kill Abner because he had caused Asahel’s death, even though unintentional if he didn’t stay in one of the cities of refuge. Technically, Joab was within the law, although his actions were unacceptable. David asked that Joab’s family be cursed for having abused the law in such a fashion.
“So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
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. 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.” (II Samuel 3:30-32)
David pronounced a day of mourning for Abner, demanding that Joab and the army acknowledge his death. It probably didn’t please Joab.
“And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? 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.” (II Samuel 3:33-34)
As David pointed out, Abner’s death was his own fault, even though Joab killed him. He knew that the law permitted Joab and Abishai to kill him. He also knew Hebron was one of the cities of refuge, and as long as he was inside it, Joab could not legally harm him, yet he voluntarily went outside the gates to talk to Joab. He could have insisted they go somewhere inside the gates and been safe. It was a foolish decision that cost him his life.
“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.
And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.” (II Samuel 3:36-37)
David’s obvious grief over Abner’s death, and his refusal to eat or celebrate in any way further endeared him to the people.
“And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? 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.” (II Samuel 3:38-39)
David reminded his people of the greatness of Abner, that he had served and led the army well for many years, and that though he was king, he was unable to take any action against his killers. All he could do about it was to let God repay them for such wicked, albeit legal behavior.
It is important that we understand that just because something is legal does not make it right. As Christians, we are to focus on what is right, rather than what is legal. II Corinthians 3:6 speaks of God, “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” The letter of the law let Joab get away with murder.
Great post, Donald. It should not be a question of what we can get away with or even justify, but of what would honor Him in truth and in spirit.
ReplyDeleteGod bless,
Laurie
Romans 7:6 stresses we have been freed to concentrate on that very point of what is right, rather than what the law specified. "But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."
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