Audio Download

2 Samuel 3:22–39 David Mourns Abner

[Study Aired October 5, 2026]

Today’s study can be divided into two sections. The first section looks at the treacherous assassination of Abner by Joab at the gate of Hebron, to avenge the murder of his brother Asahel who was killed by Abner. The second section focuses on David’s mourning of Abner and his response to the murder.  

Joab Returns to Hebron

2Sa 3:22  And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. 
2Sa 3:23  When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace. 
2Sa 3:24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone? 

The servants of David and Joab having a great spoil after pursuing a troop signifies the victories we, His elect, have won over our flesh in our walk with Christ. These victories started when we were in the churches of this world or Babylon. 

As we can see from verse 24, Abner’s peace deal with David infuriated Joab, who also represents an elect. He wanted to revenge the death of his brother Asahel that Abner killed and thought that David should have used Abner’s reconciliation with David to detain him and finally, kill him. Joab’s unwillingness to forgive Abner for the death of Asahel shows how a little inclination toward error defiles us, such that our walk with Christ becomes perverted. This is what the word of the Lord says about this:

Gal 5:9 A little leaven [a slight inclination to err or a few false teachers] leavens the whole lump [It perverts the whole conception of faith or misleads the whole church]. (Amplified Bible)

As we shall see later of the life of Joab, unforgiveness ruined his walk with Christ. We therefore need to know that a little false doctrine, unforgiveness, envy of the people of this world, etc., can destroy our relationship with Christ. 

Psa 73:2  But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 
Psa 73:3  For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 
Psa 73:4  For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 
Psa 73:5  They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
Psa 73:6  Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 
Psa 73:7  Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

2Sa 3:25  Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.   

Joab’s assertion that Abner came to deceive David is let us know his mindset. He could not come to terms of what the Lord was doing in the life of Abner. The Lord’s admonition to Peter shows us that what the Lord has cleansed, we cannot call it common or impure or unworthy. 

Act 10:9  On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 
Act 10:10  And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 
Act 10:11  And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
Act 10:12  Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 
Act 10:13  And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 
Act 10:14  But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. 
Act 10:15  And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 
Act 10:16  This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Joab Murders Abner

2Sa 3:26  And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. 
2Sa 3:27  And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

In verse 26, we are told that David was kept in the dark regarding the plot by Joab to bring Abner back and to assassinate him by smiting him under the fifth rib. The first time that rib appeared in the Bible, it had to do with the Lord taking the rib of Adam or man and using it to make a woman (Eve). 

Gen 2:21  And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 
Gen 2:22  And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

The rib therefore represents what we have that is used to build the church (woman) of the Lord’s elect. As we are aware, it is the truth of the word of the Lord which every joint supplies that builds the church of the Lord. What every joint supplies is the voice of the Lord that speaks in our midst, which we are required to pay heed to. 

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 
Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 
Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 
Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Joab smiting Abner under the fifth rib, killing him, therefore means that Abner was deprived of the truth of the word of the Lord to become part of the church of the Lord’s elect. The Bible warns us of those who cause our brothers and sisters to stumble.

Luk 17:1  Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 
Luk 17:2  It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 

2Sa 3:28  And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD forever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
2Sa 3:29  Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

David asserting that he was guiltless before the Lord from the blood of Abner is to let us know that we are not held responsible for the fall of our brothers and sisters, unless we have directly contributed to their fall, as we see Joab kill Abner. 

Joab’s action against Abner reflects that of our brothers and sisters who fall away.

Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 
Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 
Heb 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 
Heb 6:7  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 
Heb 6:8  But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. 
Heb 6:9  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

It is important to interrogate the statement by David in verse 29 regarding the curse he placed on Joab and his family. One of them is that there will always be leprosy in the house of Joab. Leprosy is a disease of the flesh. Spiritually, having leprosy signifies being under the destructive power or control of our flesh. As we are aware, those who are controlled by the flesh can never please God.

Lev 13:15  And the priest shall see the raw flesh, and pronounce him to be unclean: for the raw flesh is unclean: it is a leprosy.

Rom 8:8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Just as leprosy is an infectious disease, and therefore those with leprosy are taken out of a community, being under the control of the flesh in the midst of the Lord’s people is also infectious. That is why we are required to cast out of our fellowship a brother or sister after two admonitions, lest their influence destroys many. 

Tit 3:10  As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 
Tit 3:11  knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. (ESV)

Lev 13:45  “The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ 
Lev 13:46  He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp. 

Joab represents those who usurp authority in the church as we see him undermine the authority of David. Joab’s family therefore represents those who rebel against the leadership of the church of the Lord’s elect. David pronouncing in verse 29 that there shall always be leprosy in the house of Joab is to remind us that those who usurp authority in the church of the Lord’s elect have leprosy. In other words, they are full of the flesh.    

Another curse pronounced by David was that Joab’s family would always have oozing sores. It signifies that our brothers and sisters who rebel against the leadership of the church of the Lord’s elect have their minds corrupted by the devil and their hearts are troubled and unstable.

Isa 1:5  Why should ye be stricken anymore? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 
Isa 1:6  From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. 

The third curse pronounced by David was that Joab’s family would always have someone who leans on the staff. This shows our dependence on what is transient and not permanent. For example, depending on money means leaning on a staff. Those who depend on money, think that money answers all things.

Ecc 10:19  A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.    

1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 
1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

David also said that Joab’s family would always have those who fall by the sword or lack bread. This suggests that those who rebel against the Lord’s leadership lack the truth of the word of the Lord and are therefore filled with false doctrines. These are the false prophets who parade as the Lord’s messengers.

2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 
2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

2Sa 3:30  So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 

As clearly indicated here in verse 30, it was an unforgiving spirit that had taken hold of Joab and Abishai and caused them to commit the murder of Abner. An unforgiving spirit leads to bitterness which defiles many and causes many to be disqualified of the prize of the higher calling of the Lord.

Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 
Heb 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

David Mourns Abner

2Sa 3:31  And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. 
2Sa 3:32  And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

David rending his clothes, putting on sackcloth together with the men with him and weeping as Abner was buried in Hebron signifies how as the Lord’s elect, we are always in mourning mode as we are afflicted by the Lord because of our flesh. It also demonstrates how as the Lord’s elect, we must humble ourselves before the Lord so that in due season, He will lift us up. 

Jas 4:9  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.  

2Ch 34:27  Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.

The fact that the two witnesses in the Book of Revelation wore sackcloth as they prophesied emphasizes how we are not called for an easy life here on earth. However, our confidence is in the fact that the Lord will not give us what we cannot bear in this life. 

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

David and his men lifting their voices and weeping at the burial of Abner also signifies how as the Lord’s elect, we groan (a deep, long sound that shows pain, unhappiness and frustration) to be clothed with our house from heaven.

Rom 8:23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

2Co 5:2  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

2Co 5:4  For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

2Sa 3:33  And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? 
2Sa 3:34  Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him. 

It is instructive to note that David said that Abner died as a fool and the reason that he died as a fool was because he fell before wicked men, although he was not handcuffed or his feet put in chains. To understand this in the spirit, we need to know what Abner and wicked men represent. As we have previously stated, Abner signifies our brothers and sisters in the church system of this world. The wicked men are the false apostles parading in the corridors of the churches of this world. It also includes our own brothers and sisters who speak perverse things to draw away some of our brothers and sisters, even as we see Joab drew away his brother Abishai to murder Abner.  

Act 20:30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 
Act 20:31  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 

Jer 5:26  For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.

2Sa 3:35  And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down. 
2Sa 3:36  And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. 
2Sa 3:37  For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

We can see from verse 35 that because of the affliction that David was going through, he was fasting without realizing it. There are times that we are in a dire straits and during such periods, we do not even think of eating and all we care about is the Lord’s intervention in our situation. We are automatically fasting without realizing it. The Lord in His mercy sometimes answers us, as we see in the case of David in verses 36 and 37 that all Israel were pleased with him and that they were convinced that he was not involved in the murder of Abner. 

Isa 58:5  Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? 
Isa 58:6  Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 
Isa 58:7  Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 

2Sa 3:38  And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
2Sa 3:39  And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

David telling his servants that Abner was a prince and a great man in Israel shows how we are to regard our brothers and sisters in Babylon. We must accord them the respect that is due, knowing that it is their failure that has given us the opportunity to be the beloved sons of the Father. 

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

David’s statement that even though he was anointed king, he was weak because of the sons of Zeruiah implies that as His anointed elect, we feel weak sometimes. However, in our weakness, the strength of the Lord is made manifest in our lives. 

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 
2Co 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 

David’s statement that the Lord will reward evil doers according to their wickedness is to show us that whatever we sow, we reap. If we sow to the flesh, we shall reap corruption. On the other hand, if we sow to the spirit, we shall reap everlasting life.

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 
Gal 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 

Amen!!