Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. Let it fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.” So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn in front of Abner.” King David followed the bier.
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2 Samuel 3:28-31 sits inside this longer paragraph.
When Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David didn’t know it. When Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. Let it fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.” So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn in front of Abner.” King David followed the bier. They buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at Abner’s grave; and all the people wept. The king lamented for Abner, and said, “Should Abner die as a fool dies? Your hands weren’t bound, and your feet weren’t put into fetters. As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so you fell.” All the people wept again over him.
Parallel Translations
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Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
Let it fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”
So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn in front of Abner.” King David followed the bier.
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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:
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.
So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
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.
Show all 3 translations
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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;
let it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon 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 by the sword, or that lacketh bread.'
So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him: 'Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and wail before Abner.' And king David followed the bier.
Cross-references (29)
- Genesis 37:34 (v31) Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days.
- Acts 28:4 (vv29–30) When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has…
- Numbers 35:33 (v28) “ ‘So you shall not pollute the land where you live; for blood pollutes the land. No atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that…
- Joshua 7:6 (v31) Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before Yahweh’s ark until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put…
- Judges 11:35 (v31) When he saw her, he tore his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are one of those who trouble me;…
Show all 28 cross-references
- 2 Samuel 1:2 (v31) on the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn, and earth on his head. When he came to David, he…
- 2 Samuel 1:11 (v31) Then David took hold on his clothes, and tore them; and all the men who were with him did likewise.
- 2 Samuel 1:16 (v29) David said to him, “Your blood be on your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain Yahweh’s anointed.’ ”
- 2 Samuel 2:19-23 (v30) Asahel pursued Abner; and in going he didn’t turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner. Then Abner looked behind him, and…
- Psalms 109:8-19 (v29) Let his days be few. Let another take his office. Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. Let his children be wandering…
- Proverbs 28:17 (v30) A man who is tormented by life blood will be a fugitive until death; no one will support him.
- Genesis 4:10 (v28) Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.
- Genesis 9:6 (v28) Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in his own image.
- Genesis 37:29 (v31) Reuben returned to the pit, and saw that Joseph wasn’t in the pit; and he tore his clothes.
- Exodus 21:12 (v28) “One who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death,
- Leviticus 13:44-46 (v29) he is a leprous man. He is unclean. The priest shall surely pronounce him unclean. His plague is on his head. “The leper in whom the plague…
- Leviticus 15:2 (v29) “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When any man has a discharge from his body, because of his discharge he is unclean.
- Deuteronomy 21:1-9 (v28) If someone is found slain in the land which Yahweh your God gives you to possess, lying in the field, and it isn’t known who has struck…
- Judges 9:24 (v29) that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother who…
- Judges 9:56-57 (v29) Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father in killing his seventy brothers; and God repaid all the wickedness…
- 1 Samuel 2:32-36 (v29) You will see the affliction of my habitation, in all the wealth which I will give Israel. There shall not be an old man in your house…
- 1 Kings 2:31-34 (v29) The king said to him, “Do as he has said, and fall on him, and bury him; that you may take away the blood, which Joab shed without cause,…
- 2 Kings 5:1 (v29) Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Yahweh had given…
- 2 Kings 5:27 (v29) Therefore the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and to your offspring forever.” He went out from his presence a leper, as white as snow.
- 2 Kings 19:1 (v31) When king Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into Yahweh’s house.
- Matthew 27:24 (v28) So when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water, and washed his hands before…
- Luke 7:14 (v31) He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”
- Revelation 16:6 (v29) For they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this.”
28 distinct cross-references across this passage (29 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv28, 30, 31 The Lord knoweth that I did not consent to…
The Lord knoweth that I did not consent to his death.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv28–31 2Sa 3:28 And afterward when David heard [it], he…
2Sa 3:28 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:
Ver. 28. From the blood of Abner.] Heb., Bloods: from every drop of his blood shed when he was slain. David cleareth himself and his kingdom of this crying crime. But what a deal hath France to answer for the Parisian massacre, whereby a hundred thousand, some say more, innocents perished in one year in various parts of the realm! besides the many civil dissensions there, to the effusion of much Christian blood, and six thousand gentlemen slain in private quarrels within the space of ten years! as it appears by the king’s pardons. {a}
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{a} See "Les Ombres des Defunts Seiures de Vilemor et de Fountains," p. 46.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv28–31 David said publicly, before his courtiers and people; and…
David said publicly, before his courtiers and people; and seriously, as in God’s presence; I call the Lord to witness, that this was not done by my instigation or authority, or by any public counsel, but only by Joab’s malice; and therefore I trust that God will not punish me nor my kingdom, but Joab only.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv28–31 And afterward, when David heard it,.... That Joab had…
And afterward, when David heard it,.... That Joab had sent to fetch Abner back, and that he had stabbed him in the gate of the city, and he was dead; it was some time after it was done that the news of it was brought to David; this circumstance is observed, the more to clear the king from any concern in this affair:
he said; in a public manner, in open court, before all his princes; he called God to witness, and, as Josephus (i) says, stretching out his right hand to God, he cried aloud:
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I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner; he was sensible it would be known that Abner had been with him, and that Joab his general had killed him; and therefore it might be suspected that he had an hand in it, and that it was done by his order, with his privy council; and therefore, to purge him and them from it, he made this public declaration, that neither he nor his council knew anything of it; and that it was not done with their knowledge and consent, and by their order, but through the resentment of a single person; and therefore hoped that no man would impute the shedding of this blood unto them, or that God would punish them for it; and he was the rather led to make this public declaration, because he knew that the death of Abner in this way would be resented by the friends of Saul's family, and be an obstruction to the union of the two kingdoms, which it was known Abner was endeavouring to bring about.
(i) Antiqu. l. 7. c. 1. sect. 6.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv29–31 Let it, &c. - But would not a resolute…
Let it, &c. - But would not a resolute punishment of the murderer himself have become David better, than this passionate imprecation on his posterity?
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv29, 31 Verse 29. Let it rest on the head] All…
Verse 29. Let it rest on the head] All these verbs may be rendered in the future tense: it will rest on the head of Joab, &c. This was a prophetic declaration, which sufficiently showed the displeasure of God against this execrable man.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv28, 30, 31 2Sa 3:28-29. When David heard it, he said, I…
2Sa 3:28-29. When David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless — Josephus says, he lifted up his hands to God, and, with a loud voice, cried out publicly that God knew he was innocent in this matter; and therefore he trusted God would not let him and his kingdom suffer for it. And on all his father’s house — David’s indignation at the fact transported him much too far in making him wish that all Joab’s family might suffer for it, which was contrary to the law of God. See Deu 24:16. “Methinks,” says Henry, “a resolute punishment of the murderer himself would better have become David than this passionate imprecation of God’s judgments upon his posterity.” But, perhaps, the words are to be considered as a prediction rather than as an imprecation. Accordingly, Houbigant renders them, but it shall or will rest upon the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house, and there will not fail, &c.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v29 The curse of David proves that Joab was not…
The curse of David proves that Joab was not justified as blood-revenger or Goel 2Sa 3:27 in taking away Abner’s life.
That leaneth on a staff - Rather, a crutch. The phrase denotes one lame or infirm. For similar instances of hereditary disease and poverty as a punishment of great sin, see 1Sa 2:31-33, 1Sa 2:36; 2Ki 5:27; Joh 9:2.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv28, 29, 31 Innocent. I would not purchase a kingdom at such…
Innocent. I would not purchase a kingdom at such a price. (Calmet) --- I beg that the crime may not be imputed to us, who are innocent. (Haydock) --- God sometimes punishes a whole kingdom for the sins of the rulers. (Menochius) --- Yet not without some fault of the subjects. (Haydock)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v31 David said to Joab, and to all the people…
David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth--David's sorrow was sincere and profound, and he took occasion to give it public expression by the funeral honors he appointed for Abner.
King David himself followed the bier--a sort of wooden frame, partly resembling a coffin, and partly a hand-barrow.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv29–30 29. Let there not fail from the house of…
29. Let there not fail from the house of Joab — Let that house always be afflicted by having constantly among its members those distressed with an issue, that is, gonorrhea, (Lev_15:2.) or leprosy, or lameness, or poverty, or those that suffer assassination or some similarly violent death.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv28–31 28–30. The Curse of Blood-guiltiness
28–30. The Curse of Blood-guiltiness
28. I and my kingdom are guiltless] With a strong asseveration David asserts his entire innocence of any complicity in this murder. Neither upon himself personally nor upon “his kingdom,” i.e. the royal house, his descendants and successors, could punishment for shedding this innocent blood justly fall. Cp. 1Ki_2:31-33. For the doctrine of a divine judgment which was certain to fall upon the murderer and his posterity, “visiting the sins of the fathers upon the children,” see Gen_4:11; Deu_21:6-9; Mat_23:35. Compare the Greek belief in the avenging Furies who dogged the murderer’s steps.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv28–31 (28) I and my kingdom are guiltless.—This was true.…
(28) I and my kingdom are guiltless.—This was true. Joab’s act was entirely without David’s knowledge, and was not only against his will on moral grounds, but was in danger of proving disastrous to him politically; hence he takes the strongest means of showing his abhorrence of the deed.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv28–31 I and my kingdom are guiltless. By this David…
I and my kingdom are guiltless. By this David means, not his royal house, but the people generally, who too often have to pay the penalty for the sins of their rulers. (see 2Sa_21:1) Necessarily this is the case, wherever the crime is a state crime; but David protests that Abner"s murder was a private crime, for which Joab and Abishai alone ought to suffer.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv28, 31 Ner ... Abishai ... Asahel
Ner ... Abishai ... Asahel
These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)
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the blood of Abner
Here "blood" refers to the death of Abner. See how you translated a similar phrase in 2 Samuel 3:27. AT: "the death of Abner" or "the murder of Abner" (See: Metonymy)
fall on the head of Joab and on all his father's house
This phrase means the results of the guilt will happen to Joab and his family as if something heavy had collapsed on them. AT: "always cause suffering for Joab and for all his father's house" (See: Metaphor)
all his father's house
Here "house" refers to descendants. AT: "all the descendants of Joab's father" (See: Metonymy)
May there never fail to be
This double negative emphasizes that there will always be someone with the problems listed. AT: "May there always be" (See: Metonymy)
is killed by the sword
Here "sword" refers to violent death. AT: "dies violently" (See: Metonymy)
goes without food
"is hungry"
translationWords
David
kingdom
innocent
Yahweh
eternity
blood
Abner
guilt
die
head
Joab
house
staff
sword
Gibeon
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv28–31 3:28 David made it clear that he had nothing…
3:28 David made it clear that he had nothing to do with Abner’s death, labeling it as a crime. David knew that because his second-in-command had killed Abner, rumors would circulate among those loyal to Saul’s dynasty that David had ordered the killing. • I vow by the Lord: David called on the Lord to hold him accountable if he were lying.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.