THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
While this profound grief lingered, Joab, the commander, inflicted further anguish by deceitfully slaying Abenir. This act thwarted Abenir's commitment to betray the entire army to David with ease and without any resistance.
2 Kingdoms (2 Samuel) 3:27Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to the middle of the gate, to speak to him treacherously: and he stabbed him there in the groin, and he died, in revenge of the blood of Asael his brother.
וַיָּ֤שָׁב אַבְנֵר֙ חֶבְר֔וֹן וַיַּטֵּ֤הוּ יוֹאָב֙ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ הַשַּׁ֔עַר לְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ בַּשֶּׁ֑לִי וַיַּכֵּ֤הוּ שָׁם֙ הַחֹ֔מֶשׁ וַיָּ֕מָת בְּדַ֖ם עֲשָׂה־אֵ֥ל אָחִֽיו׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Theodoret of Cyrus
Why did Joab take the life of Abner? The stated reason was the killing of Azael, yet the true motivation stemmed from jealousy. Joab realized that Abner would be elevated to a position of command, having successfully united the Israelites under the king. Thus, his greed spurred him to commit the act. Nevertheless, the courageous king grieved for the unjust murder and proclaimed numerous curses upon the perpetrator. He declared, "I am innocent, and my reign is from the Lord, even to the ages of ages." The blood of Abner, the son of Ner, will fall upon Joab and his entire household, and may he who sows seeds, suffers from leprosy, wields the rod, and faces hardship not be absent from Joab’s lineage.
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According to the law, those who control the seed and are afflicted with leprosy are deemed unclean and removed from the congregation. The rod is held by those whose physical capabilities are impaired, which is why Aquila referred to such individuals as blind. Therefore, David’s curses directed at Joab’s lineage encompassed various physical afflictions, extreme destitution, and death by the sword. Ultimately, David commanded that Joab be executed upon his own passing.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- 2 Sam 20:9And Joab said to Amasa: God save thee, my brother. And he took Amasa by the chin with his right hand to kiss him.
- 2 Sam 20:10But Amasa did not take notice of the sword, which Joab had, and he struck him in the side, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and gave him not a second wound, and he died. And Joab, and Abisai his brother pursued after Seba the son of Bochri.
- Jer 41:2And Ismahel the son of Nathanias arose, and the ten men that were with him, and they struck Godolias the son of Ahicam, the son of Saphan with the sword, and slew him whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.
- 2 Sam 2:19And Asael pursued after Abner, and turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
- 2 Sam 2:23But he refused to hearken to him, and would not turn aside: wherefore Abner struck him with his spear with a back stroke in the groin, and thrust him through, and he died upon the spot: and all that came to the place where Asael fell down and died stood still.
- Jer 41:6And Ismahel the son of Nathanias went forth from Masphath to meet them, weeping all along as he went: and when he had met them, he said to them: Come to Godolias, the son of Ahicam.
- Jer 41:7And when they were come to the midst of the city, Ismahel the son of Nathanias, slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he and the men that were with him.
- Deut 27:24Cursed be he that secretly killeth his neighbour: and all the people shall say: Amen.