2 Samuel 3:22-39
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.
2 Samuel 4
4:1 v all Israel became paralyzed with fear: Abner’s true power was evident in Ishbosheth’s reaction to his death (cp. Josh 2:9-11 w; 5:1 x). Ishbosheth’s timidity bred the same among his followers.Summary for 2Sam 4:2-3: 4:2-3 y Beeroth was located in Benjamin near Gibeon. Probably because of Saul’s persecution of the non-Israelite residents in that region (see 21:1-9 z), the citizens of Beeroth had fled to Gittaim, the location of which is unknown.
4:4 aa This parenthetical statement shows that, with the death of Ishbosheth (4:5-7 ab), Saul’s dynasty was unable to continue—the only other heir was a young child who was crippled (see also 9:1-13 ac).
• Mephibosheth is a nickname meaning “from the mouth of shame,” possibly referring to his physical condition. No crippled animal could ever be offered to God, and no disabled priest was allowed to stand before God with the people’s offerings (Lev 21:19 ad). Likewise, Mephibosheth’s condition probably disqualified him from the crown. His name change from Merib-baal (see 1 Chr 9:40 ae) also removed association with Baal (see study note on 2 Sam 2:8).
4:6 af Recab and Baanah believed they would gain David’s favor by committing this treacherous act.
4:8 ag your enemy Saul: As far as we know, David never referred to Saul as an enemy.
• the Lord has given ... revenge: Wrongdoers often presume upon God’s favor to justify political ambition. However, David would not reward treachery.
Summary for 2Sam 4:9-11: 4:9-11 ah Someone once told me: Cp. 1:1-16 ai.
4:12 aj cut off their hands and feet: Displaying the dismembered bodies of Ishbosheth’s killers shamed them by denying them proper burial (cp. 1 Sam 31:8-13 ak); it was also a public testimony of David’s innocence in Ishbosheth’s death.
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