04. Abner is killed ( 2Samuel 3:22–39)

David must have rejoiced upon hearing Abner’s proposal and likely saw it as part of God’s providence. But instead, it brought trouble to David. 

👉 Read 2Samuel 3:22 - 39 

Q1. Joab was not happy that David had let Abner leave in ( ). Joab secretly called Abner back to ( ) and killed him because of the blood of ( ), his brother. David became very angry about this and put a ( ) on Joab and his house. 

Joab was not happy that David had sent Abner away in (peace). Joab secretly called Abner back to (Hebron) and killed him because of the blood of (Asahel), his brother. David became very angry about this and put a (curse) on Joab and his house. 

Q2. What are the three things David did to make clear that he didn’t plan the assassination? (vv. 31–32, 33–34, 35) 

He announced an official mourning and personally led the funeral procession. 

He made a lament for Abner. 

He refused to eat anything until sunset. 

“You fell the way one falls before criminals.” David implied that Joab was a criminal, and Abner was an innocent victim. 

David could mourn for Abner, but was his curse against Joab justified? Such a response could have risked undermining the loyalty of Joab and his men. David was in a dilemma. However, it seemed more important for him to make the people believe that he had no part in Joab’s wickedness. Verses 36–37 show that David’s politically intentional gesture was effective and convinced the people that he was not involved in Abner’s assassination. 

David’s words in verse 38 were not mere lip service. Abner had served Saul in many battles and played a key role in defending Israel from the Philistines for forty years. Had Abner joined David’s leadership, he would have been a valuable asset to the kingdom and a counterbalance to Joab’s growing influence. However, because of his assassination, Joab’s power increased—and his uncontrollable influence would later become a burden to David’s reign.