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Joab was not there when all of this took place, because he and his men<br />
had fought and won a battle. When he came in from the battle and found<br />
out that Abner had been there and made a league with David, he was very<br />
angry. Although Abner had killed Asahel in self-defence, Joab was ready to<br />
take revenge upon him for killing his brother. Joab sent messengers after<br />
Abner to bring him secretly to the gate of Hebron. Then he took him aside<br />
in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him under the fifth rib, so<br />
that he died (II Samuel 3:19-27).<br />
When David heard about it, he refused to take any of the blame. He said:<br />
...I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of<br />
Abner the son of Ner: Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s<br />
house; and let there not fall from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or<br />
that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that<br />
lacketh bread<br />
— II Samuel 3:28-29<br />
Then David commanded Joab and all the people to tear their clothes, put<br />
on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. King David himself followed the<br />
casket to the burial, and wept at the grave, saying:<br />
...Died Abner as a fool dieth? Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into<br />
fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou...<br />
— II Samuel 3:33-34<br />
David refused to eat the rest of the day until the sun went down. The<br />
people all understood that David had no plans to slay Abner. David told his<br />
servants, “Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day<br />
in Israel? And I am this day weak, though anointed king...” (II Samuel 3:<br />
38-39).<br />
When Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, heard that Abner was dead, he felt helpless<br />
and weak. Abner had been the captain of his armies, and had helped set<br />
him up as king of Israel. In fact, “all the Israelites were troubled” (I Samuel<br />
4:1).<br />
Two brothers, Baanah and Rechab, who were Benjamites, were convinced<br />
that David would soon reign over all Israel, so they decided to do something<br />
to win David’s approval. They were captains of raiding bands, and had<br />
access to the king’s house. They came in the heat of the day when the king<br />
was resting, pretending they had come to fetch wheat. Instead, they killed<br />
Ishbosheth, cut off his head, and travelling all night, brought it to David,<br />
expecting his praise.<br />
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