Joab’s Bloody Vengeance

Three times the author of 2 Samuel tells us that Abner departs from David’s presence “in peace” (3:21, 22, 23). The author appears quite concerned to show that David has given Abner a safe conduct, that he has personally guaranteed Abner’s safety. It is important that we understand this because, in the end, David’s guarantee provides no protection for Abner at all.

Soon after Abner departs, Joab returns from a raid. When he is told mat David has received Abner and has sent him away “in peace,” he is so incensed that he actually rebukes his uncle the king. “What have you done?” he demands. In Joab’s mind, David has done a very foolish thing; he has squandered a golden opportunity. Abner came to him freely, so David might have made him a prisoner, but instead he let Abner walk away. Joab is convinced that Abner came to Hebron only so that he could spy on David, hoping to learn his habits and defenses that he might attack and capture or kill him. Of course, Joab is looking at the situation through the steam of his still-simmering resentment for Abner stemming from Abner’s killing of Joab’s brother Asahel in combat. Because he cannot look on the situation objectively, he cannot perceive that David is acting perfectly justly in making peace with Abner.

This rash, disrespectful tirade deserves a strong rebuke from David, but our text gives no hint that he makes any reply. If David does indeed keep his peace, he soon regrets it, for Joab now proceeds from disrespect to treason. Still seething, he sends messengers after Abner to ask him to return. Presumably this is done in David’s name, but David does not know of it. When Abner innocently returns, Joab meets him at the gate of Hebron and takes him aside, as if to speak with him privately. Then he fatally stabs Abner in the stomach in revenge for Asahel’s killing. Joab’s other brother, Abishai, apparently is in on the plot in some unspecified way (v. 30).

This is a monstrous crime. Asahel was not wrongly killed; he died in war, after being warned. Now, however, Joab has killed Abner in a surprise, peacetime attack that violates the express command of his king. Joab and Abishai “shed the blood of war in peacetime” (1 Kings 2:5), and for that they eventually will face judgment.