2Sa 3:22-39 | TNotes

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.
3:31 ^j David himself walked: David’s public presence in the mourning procession, his open weeping at the gravesite (3:32 ^k), and his dramatic fast (3:35 ^l) made evident to the public that he had not ordered Abner’s killing (3:37 ^m).
3:32 ⁿ Burying Abner in Hebron, David’s capital city at the time, rather than at some northern site reinforced Abner’s shift of support from Saul to David. Presumably it encouraged others from the northern tribes to follow Abner’s example.
3:33 ^o as fools die: Abner was deceived by Joab, an enemy who posed as a friend (see 3:27 ^p).
3:34 ^q a wicked plot: Normal warfare could not defeat Abner, a seasoned warrior. Only treachery could.
3:35 ^r begged him to eat: See also 12:17 ^s.
3:37 ^t See study note on 3:31.
3:39 ^u too strong for me to control: Just as Ishbosheth could not control Abner, David could not control Joab. However, David had faith that the Lord would repay Joab for murdering Abner.