2 Samuel 3:22-30
3:26 a The precise location of the well of Sirah is unknown; presumably it was not far from Hebron.• David knew nothing about it: See study note on 3:21.
3:27 b as if to speak with him privately: Joab accused Abner of deception (3:25 c), but he used deception himself to lure Abner to his death.
• in revenge: Joab was motivated by the practice of blood vengeance, avenging the death of a kinsman by killing the killer.
3:28 d David made it clear that he had nothing to do with Abner’s death, labeling it as a crime. David knew that because his second-in-command had killed Abner, rumors would circulate among those loyal to Saul’s dynasty that David had ordered the killing.
• I vow by the Lord: David called on the Lord to hold him accountable if he were lying.
3:29 e leprosy: While leprosy is a possible translation, the Hebrew here probably refers to a broader range of skin inflammations, not only Hansen’s disease.
• who walks on crutches: This curse effectively alienated Joab from David, and from this point on they had only a professional relationship. David’s deathbed order to Solomon to get rid of Joab (1 Kgs 2:5-6 f) and Solomon’s exoneration of David in Abner’s death (1 Kgs 2:31-33 g) indicate that David’s mourning over Abner was genuine.
3:30 h See 2:18-28 i.
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