David Mourns Abner – Did Joab Get Away with Murder?
“Keep an even keel.” ~ Unknown
This old saying comes to mind as we step into the somber scene of Abner’s funeral. If you’ve been following the story, you’ll remember that Joab killed Abner in a previous chapter of 2 Samuel.
Now, we’re left with a question that feels surprisingly modern: Did Joab get away with murder?
In some ways, the answer seems to be yes. But why did King David, known for his devotion and wisdom, let it slide? Let’s take a deeper look at this Bible passage and see what we can learn about leadership, loyalty, and justice.
Scripture Reading – 2 Samuel 3:30-39
“So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.”
David Mourns Abner
Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.”
And King David walked behind the bier.
– And they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king raised his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.
And the king sang a song of mourning for Abner and said,
“Should Abner die as a fool dies?
Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put in bronze shackles;
As one falls before the wicked, you have fallen.”
And all the people wept over him again.
Then all the people came to provide food for David in his distress while it was still day; but David vowed, saying, “May God do so to me, and more so, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down.”
Now all the people took note of David’s vow, and it pleased them, just as everything that the king did pleased all the people.
So all the people and all Israel understood on that day that it had not been the desire of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death.
Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a leader and a great man has fallen in Israel this day?
And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too difficult for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer in proportion to his evil.” – 2 Samuel 3:30-39 (NASB)
What Is a Bier?
Verse 31 tells us that “King David walked behind the bier.” What is a bier? Simply put, it’s the ancient equivalent of a coffin or casket used in a funeral procession. By walking behind it, David wasn’t just showing respect—he was leading the mourning, making a powerful statement of grief and honor for Abner.
Loyalty vs. Control – Joab Was Both
We’ve all known people who are tough to manage—loyal, maybe, but fiercely independent. That’s Joab in a nutshell. He was David’s military commander, a brave warrior, and yes, even David’s nephew. But his strong will made him difficult to control.
David deeply mourned Abner, but Joab’s actions created a difficult situation that wasn’t easily resolved.
So, Did Joab Get Away with Murder?
To put it bluntly, yes—at least in the short term. Joab killed Abner out of revenge, not justice, and David didn’t stop him or punish him. But the king had reasons that went beyond personal emotion.
Why Didn’t David Punish Joab?
This is where it gets complicated. As we often find in Bible stories, the motivations aren’t always spelled out in black and white. But here are some possible reasons:
- Punishing Joab could have caused rebellion among the troops.
- Joab was family—David’s own blood—and that complicates things.
- Judah, David’s tribe, may have turned against him.
- Joab was one of David’s most effective military leaders.
It’s likely that David made a political decision instead of one based purely on justice. This moment shows the tightrope leaders walk between morality and politics.
Was There Ever Justice?
Abner’s death was tragic. The mourning was real. But justice? It seemed delayed, or perhaps even denied.
We’ve all seen it—people in power who lie, cheat, or even commit crimes without facing consequences. It can feel like justice is blind or absent.
But God Sees Everything
Scripture reminds us that God’s justice doesn’t always come on our timeline. Deuteronomy 32:35 says:
“Vengeance is Mine, and retribution; In due time their foot will slip. For the day of their disaster is near, And the impending things are hurrying to them.”
In other words, no one truly gets away with murder. God saw what Joab did. And even though David didn’t take action, God’s justice would eventually come.
Final Thoughts
This passage reminds us that justice may not be instant, but it is inevitable. David mourned Abner with integrity. He honored him publicly and distanced himself from the act of murder. Even in a complicated world, David trusted that God would judge the evildoer—in His time.
So next time you’re tempted to ask, “Why do the wicked seem to win?”—remember this story. God is still in control. And in His perfect justice, every act will be accounted for.
As my Uncle Hazel used to say when asked about something out of his hands: “I’m not running that job this year.”
In Christ,
Bob
If you would like to discover how to receive the love and life-changing experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to see John 3:16 here.