2 Samuel 3:28 kjv
And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
2 Samuel 3:28 nkjv
Afterward, when David heard it, he said, "My kingdom and I are guiltless before the LORD forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
2 Samuel 3:28 niv
Later, when David heard about this, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.
2 Samuel 3:28 esv
Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD for the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
2 Samuel 3:28 nlt
When David heard about it, he declared, "I vow by the LORD that I and my kingdom are forever innocent of this crime against Abner son of Ner.
2 Samuel 3 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 4:10 | "What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to Me from..." | The defilement and voice of shed innocent blood. |
| Num 35:33-34 | "You shall not pollute the land... for blood pollutes the land..." | Innocent blood defiles the land and demands atonement. |
| Deut 19:10 | "that innocent blood may not be shed in your land..." | Warning against shedding innocent blood and its defiling consequences for the land. |
| Deut 21:1-9 | "...shall wash their hands and say, ‘Our hands have not shed this blood..." | Ritual for clearing a community of unknown bloodguilt. |
| Psa 7:4-5 | "if I have repaid my friend with evil, or plundered my adversary without..." | A prayer affirming innocence from unjust actions. |
| Psa 9:12 | "For He who avenges blood remembers them; He does not forget the cry..." | God's justice in remembering and avenging innocent blood. |
| Psa 94:21 | "They gather together against the life of the righteous and condemn innocent..." | Those who conspire against the innocent will be judged by God. |
| Prov 6:17 | "...hands that shed innocent blood..." | Listing the shedding of innocent blood as an abomination to the Lord. |
| Jer 2:34 | "Also on your skirts is found the blood of the poor innocent ones..." | Condemnation for those, including leaders/prophets, stained with innocent blood. |
| 2 Sam 1:14-16 | "...How were you not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’s..." | David executes the Amalekite who claimed to kill Saul, upholding the anointed king's sanctity. |
| 2 Sam 4:9-12 | "...the Lord, who has delivered my soul out of all adversity..." | David executes Rechab and Baanah for Ish-bosheth's murder, clearing himself again. |
| 1 Ki 2:5-6 | "Moreover you know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me... he murdered..." | David's final charge to Solomon concerning Joab's past deeds, including Abner's murder. |
| 1 Ki 2:31-33 | "...may your blood therefore return upon your own head... upon the head..." | Solomon's judgment upon Joab, confirming that the bloodguilt returns to his own head and house. |
| Isa 59:3 | "For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity..." | Speaking of national sin and defilement by shedding blood. |
| Matt 27:24 | "When Pilate saw that he could not prevail... he took water and washed his..." | Pilate's attempt to symbolically clear himself of guilt for Jesus' innocent blood. |
| Acts 20:26 | "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all..." | Paul's declaration of having fulfilled his duty and being free from the blood of men. |
| Heb 12:24 | "...to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of..." | The efficacy of Christ's blood as a redemptive contrast to shedding innocent blood. |
| Num 30:2 | "When a man makes a vow to the Lord or swears an oath... he shall not..." | Emphasizes the binding nature of vows made before the Lord. |
| Deut 6:13 | "...and you shall serve Him, and swear by His name." | Commands to swear by the Lord's name, signifying a solemn oath. |
| Rom 13:3-4 | "For rulers are not a terror to good works... He is God’s minister to you..." | On the divine authority of rulers for maintaining order and punishing evil. |
| Ezra 7:23 | "Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it diligently be done..." | An example of king's acknowledgment and action in line with divine command. |
| Josh 2:19-20 | "...then your blood shall be on our own heads, and we will be blameless." | An example of agreeing upon bloodguilt in an oath or covenant. |
| 2 Ki 21:16 | "Moreover, Manasseh shed very much innocent blood till he had filled Jerusalem..." | A wicked king filling the land with innocent blood, incurring great divine wrath. |
2 Samuel 3 verses
2 Samuel 3 28 Meaning
2 Samuel 3:28 is a solemn declaration by King David, proclaiming his and his kingdom's innocence regarding the assassination of Abner, the commander of Saul's army, who was murdered by David's commander Joab. David's statement, made before the Lord, affirms his detachment from the treacherous act, emphasizing that neither he nor his reigning authority endorsed or orchestrated the shedding of Abner's blood. This public assertion aimed to prevent the grave spiritual and dynastic consequences associated with bloodguilt.
2 Samuel 3 28 Context
This verse is situated immediately after the brutal and treacherous murder of Abner by Joab, David's nephew and chief military commander. Abner had just successfully negotiated with the elders of Israel and Benjamin to unite the northern tribes under David's kingship, a significant step towards healing the civil war. Having received Abner peacefully and honorably, David sent him away in peace. However, upon hearing of Abner's visit, Joab, driven by personal vengeance for Abner having killed his brother Asahel in battle, and perhaps fearing a rival for his position, called Abner back and murdered him at the gate of Hebron. David was infuriated and heartbroken by this act, recognizing that it was not only an affront to divine law and his own authority but also severely compromised his credibility with the northern tribes who might now suspect David's complicity. To avert the spiritual curse of bloodguilt on his dynasty and assure the people of his righteous leadership, David publicly distanced himself and his kingdom from Joab's heinous act, declaring his innocence before the Lord and enacting a public mourning for Abner.
2 Samuel 3 28 Word analysis
- And afterward, when David heard it: This emphasizes the immediate nature of David's reaction once the full scope and treachery of Joab's actions became clear to him. It denotes a rapid and urgent need for David to address the situation publicly.
- he said: This indicates a formal and public pronouncement. David didn't just feel this privately; he stated it authoritatively for all to hear, acknowledging his kingly responsibility for the perceptions and realities within his realm.
- I and my kingdom: This phrase links David's personal innocence with that of his rule and his future dynasty. The actions of the king directly affected the spiritual state and security of the entire kingdom. He understood that shedding innocent blood could bring a curse (Hebrew: arar) upon his house and nation (as seen with Saul's house in 2 Sam 21:1-6). David needed to absolve himself and his governance from any complicity to maintain legitimacy and divine favor.
- are guiltless: The Hebrew word is נָקִי (naqi), meaning innocent, clean, acquitted, free from punishment. It is often used in legal or ethical contexts to signify freedom from blame, especially from bloodguilt. David uses this strong term to categorically deny any involvement or foreknowledge of the murder. It carries the weight of a divine acquittal.
- before the Lord: This signifies the gravity of the oath. David is not merely declaring innocence before men, but before God, the ultimate Judge. It makes his declaration a sacred vow and implies a curse on any who are guilty, underscoring that God's justice would be sought in due time against those truly responsible. It also reinforces David's righteousness in God's eyes, contrasting him with more ruthless ancient Near Eastern kings.
- forever: The Hebrew phrase is עַד עוֹלָם (ad 'olam), meaning "until eternity," "for all time," "perpetually." This term underscores the lasting nature of David's declaration and the permanent avoidance of the spiritual stain of this specific bloodguilt for his lineage and kingdom. It emphasizes that this event, while grievous, should not eternally taint his divinely appointed dynasty.
- of the blood of Abner the son of Ner: This is the precise specification of the crime from which David dissociates himself. "Blood" (דָּם - dam) here stands for a violent, unjust death. The focus on "Abner the son of Ner" individualizes the victim, recognizing the magnitude of the loss and the personal responsibility for justice due. The shedding of "innocent blood" (dam naqi) was a severe transgression in Israelite law, defiling the land and inviting divine judgment.
2 Samuel 3 28 Bonus section
- Publicity and Accountability: David's declaration was highly public. He didn't just privately grieve; he involved the people in the mourning, ensuring they saw his genuine distress and his non-complicity. He wore sackcloth and compelled Joab and the whole assembly to participate in mourning, demonstrating a visible separation from the deed.
- A Recurring Theme for David: This is not the only instance where David takes pains to dissociate himself from unjust killings committed by others. He similarly acted against the Amalekite who claimed to have killed Saul (2 Sam 1:11-16) and against Rechab and Baanah, the murderers of Ish-bosheth (2 Sam 4:9-12). This consistent pattern reinforces his identity as a righteous king, appointed by God, who upholds the sanctity of life and condemns unwarranted violence, even if it might politically benefit him.
- Distinction Between War and Murder: Abner killed Asahel in the context of war and self-defense, whereas Joab murdered Abner in peace, by deceit, making it an act of personal vendetta, not lawful blood vengeance (Abner had no malice for Asahel's death, just avoiding own death). David's public declaration draws this critical distinction.
- Foreboding of Joab's Fate: Though Joab was powerful enough that David felt unable to punish him immediately ("these men the sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me"), David's public disavowal set the stage for later justice. David's final instructions to Solomon (1 Ki 2:5-6) confirm his lasting intent for Joab to be held accountable for this very deed, illustrating the enduring nature of bloodguilt.
2 Samuel 3 28 Commentary
David's unequivocal declaration of innocence concerning Abner's murder is a pivotal moment that demonstrates his character and adherence to divine law. Faced with an act that threatened to destabilize his newly consolidating kingdom and incurred grievous bloodguilt, David chose public righteousness over silent complicity. His oath "before the Lord forever" served multiple crucial purposes: it preserved his reputation and legitimacy among the diverse tribes he sought to unite, affirmed his commitment to justice over brutal power politics, and critically, protected his royal line from the devastating spiritual curse associated with shedding innocent blood, as was exemplified by Saul's house. David understood that true kingship under Yahweh demanded moral accountability, not expediency. This profound disavowal of guilt reinforced David as a just ruler and ensured that Joab's heinous act did not tarnish the divine covenant with David's dynasty.