2 Samuel 3 26

2 Samuel 3:26 kjv

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.

2 Samuel 3:26 nkjv

And when Joab had gone from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it.

2 Samuel 3:26 niv

Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David did not know it.

2 Samuel 3:26 esv

When Joab came out from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it.

2 Samuel 3:26 nlt

Joab then left David and sent messengers to catch up with Abner, asking him to return. They found him at the well of Sirah and brought him back, though David knew nothing about it.

2 Samuel 3 verses

2 Samuel 3 26 Meaning

This verse details Joab's swift and treacherous action immediately after departing from David. Unknown to King David, Joab dispatched messengers who intercepted Abner at the well of Sirah, drawing him back to Hebron. This clandestine operation highlights Joab's deceit, his independent and vengeful will, and King David's complete ignorance of the events that would tragically lead to Abner's death.

2 Samuel 3 26 Context

This verse is pivotal within 2 Samuel chapter 3, which narrates a turning point in the long war between the house of David and the house of Saul. Abner, Saul's former commander, has defected to David after a dispute with Ish-bosheth, Saul's son. Abner meets with David in Hebron, makes a covenant, and is sent away in peace after assuring David of his commitment to unite all Israel under David's rule. Joab, David's commander, was absent during this crucial meeting. Upon his return, hearing of Abner's visit and peaceful departure, Joab is enraged. His motivations are multifaceted: fierce loyalty to David combined with suspicion of Abner's intentions, professional rivalry with Abner, and a deep-seated personal desire for revenge for the death of his brother Asahel, whom Abner had killed in self-defense (2 Sam 2:18-23). The historical and cultural context includes the practice of blood vengeance, where the "avenger of blood" (goel hadam) had a sacred duty to avenge the killing of a family member. Joab's actions, while condemned by David and the narrative, stem from this cultural obligation, albeit distorted by personal ambition and disregard for his king's new alliance.

2 Samuel 3 26 Word analysis

• When Joab departed (וַיֵּצֵא יוֹאָב - wa·ye·tsei yo·av):
  • Joab: (יוֹאָב - Yo'av) A highly capable military commander, David's nephew, but often characterized by his ruthless efficiency, strategic mind, and at times, independent actions that defy David's explicit will or moral sensibilities. His departure is significant, marking the precise moment he implements his own agenda.
  • departed: (יָצָא - yatza) Hebrew for "went out" or "departed." Emphasizes his physical removal from David's immediate presence, granting him the opportunity for covert action without David's knowledge.
• from David (מֵאֵת דָּוִד - me·'et da·vid):
  • David: The reigning King over Judah, Joab's supreme commander. His name, meaning "beloved," is central to the unfolding narrative of Israel. Joab's act here is a direct circumvention of David's authority and explicit agreement with Abner.
• he sent messengers (שָׁלַח מַלְאָכִים - sha·lach mal·a·khim):
  • sent: (שָׁלַח - shalach) To send, dispatch. This is an official act, implying Joab uses his authority as a general, lending an air of legitimacy to the summons for Abner.
  • messengers: (מַלְאָכִים - mal'akhim) Refers to emissaries or delegates. The use of "messengers" suggests a formal invitation, likely bearing the deceptive appearance of a king's summons. Abner would assume these were from David himself, drawing him into the trap.
• after Abner (אַחֲרֵי אַבְנֵר - acharei abner):
  • Abner: (אַבְנֵר - Abner) "My father is a lamp" or "My father is Ner" (Saul's uncle). He was Saul's highly experienced military commander and the general of Israel. His power and strategic mind made him a formidable figure, whose allegiance shift to David was critical for national unity.
• and they brought him back (וַיָּשִׁבוּ אֹתוֹ - va·ya·shi·vu oto):
  • brought him back: (וַיָּשִׁבוּ - va·ya·shi·vu) Implies not just a call to return but an active effort to ensure his return, perhaps through urgent persuasion or even mild coercion. The messengers are instrumental in his interception.
• from the well of Sirah (מִבְּאֵר הַסִּרָה - mi·b'e'er ha·sirah):
  • well of Sirah: (בְּאֵר הַסִּרָה - B'eer Ha-Sirah) "Well of the Turning Aside" or "Well of Departure." A specific, known landmark outside Hebron. Its name might carry a poignant, ironic meaning given Abner's fate there. It was likely a convenient spot for travel rest or water, making it a plausible location for intercepting a traveler departing the city. Its location just outside the immediate seat of David's power may have given Joab and his men a strategic advantage for their nefarious plot, distancing it from royal knowledge.
• but David did not know it (וְדָוִד לֹא יָדַע - v'da·vid lo ya·da):
  • did not know: (לֹא יָדַע - lo yada) Crucial phrase. It emphatically highlights David's ignorance and disassociation from Joab's plot. This deliberate declaration in the text serves to clear David's name and ensure the legitimacy of his reign and his adherence to justice in the eyes of the narrative and future generations, particularly concerning the lineage through which God's promises were to be fulfilled. This explicitly contrasts David's character with leaders who might be complicit in such treachery.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "When Joab departed from David, he sent messengers after Abner": This phrase immediately establishes Joab's deliberate and calculated deception. The timing ("when...departed") is critical, showing he waited until he was free from David's oversight to execute his scheme. The use of "messengers" adds a veneer of legitimacy to an illicit act.
• "they brought him back from the well of Sirah": This signifies the success of Joab's deception and the point of Abner's fateful return. The "well of Sirah" is not merely a geographic marker but symbolically a place where Abner "turned aside" from his path of safety and prosperity to meet his tragic end, highlighting his vulnerability and the effectiveness of Joab's trap.
• "but David did not know it": This final clause is of utmost theological and political importance. It categorically exonerates King David from complicity in Abner's murder. It protects David's character, underscoring his innocence and grief (as seen in later verses), and crucially maintains the moral integrity of God's chosen king for future divine promises tied to the Davidic line. This phrase is a powerful narrative device, ensuring the audience understands that the heinous act was perpetrated against the king's will, not by it.

2 Samuel 3 26 Bonus section

The "well of Sirah" being a point of "turning aside" for Abner serves as a grim narrative foreshadowing of his turning from the path of life to the path of death. This seemingly innocuous detail deepens the tragedy. This verse also implicitly highlights a major challenge in David's early kingship: while anointed by God, he struggles to fully control powerful subordinates like Joab, who act on their own authority or vengeance. This creates internal conflicts that would plague David's reign. The author's insistence on David's ignorance not only absolves him but also subtly draws attention to the fact that even a God-chosen king must contend with human sin and the lingering effects of the curse, setting up the need for a future, more perfect King who would rule in complete justice and without such moral compromises or challenges from within his own house.

2 Samuel 3 26 Commentary

2 Samuel 3:26 reveals the chilling precision of Joab's calculated revenge and treachery. Having been absent during David's amicable negotiation with Abner, Joab, driven by a deep-seated desire to avenge his brother Asahel's death and perhaps professional jealousy, immediately undermined David's authority and peace initiative. By sending messengers, Joab lent an appearance of official command, deceiving Abner into believing David himself had recalled him. Intercepting Abner at the well of Sirah, just outside the city, prevented the re-establishment of his security within Hebron, ensuring his isolation for the impending plot. The critical conclusion, "but David did not know it," serves as a forceful theological and narrative vindication of King David. It differentiates his moral character from Joab's ruthless pragmatism and ensures that the king, who embodied God's covenant with Israel, remains untainted by the bloodguilt, even as he navigates the complex and often brutal political landscape. The verse sets the stage for Abner's murder and foregrounds the ongoing tension between David's righteous reign and the ungodly actions of those closest to him.