The Meaning of 2 Samuel 3:27 Explained

2 Samuel 3:27

KJV: And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

YLT: And Abner turneth back to Hebron, and Joab turneth him aside unto the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and smiteth him there in the fifth rib -- and he dieth -- for the blood of Asahel his brother.

Darby: And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him secretly, and smote him there in the belly, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

ASV: And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And when Abner  was returned  to Hebron,  Joab  took him aside  in  the gate  to speak  with him quietly,  and smote  him there under the fifth  [rib], that he died,  for the blood  of Asahel  his brother. 

What does 2 Samuel 3:27 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 3:22-30 - A Treacherous Revenge
There is no doubt that Abner was guilty of disloyalty and treachery, but this did not excuse Joab's dastardly act. He could not claim the right to act as goel-blood avenger-for his dead brother, because Asahel had died a soldier's death in open war. Joab was probably actuated by jealousy of the military talents, the vast influence and the widespread popularity of the rival general whom he murdered in cold blood, just outside the city of refuge. Evidently he was a fierce, cruel, unscrupulous man, who hurt David more than he helped him, 2 Samuel 3:39. But Joab also was destined to suffer similar punishment in after-years, 1 Kings 2:28-34.
This world is governed according to a plan. We need not try to climb into the judgment-seat. God is there already. His rewards and punishments befall with greater certainty than we always believe. Whether their schemes are hidden amid the intricacies of state, or open to all eyes, let us be sure that evil men reap as they have sown, and suffer evils similar to those which they endeavor to inflict upon others. We all get our deserts. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 3

1  During the war David becomes stronger
2  Six sons are born to him in Hebron
6  Abner, displeased with Ishbosheth
7  revolts to David
13  David requires as a condition to bring him his wife Michal
17  Abner confers with the Israelites, feasted by David, and dismissed
22  Joab returning from battle, is displeased with the king, and kills Abner
28  David curses Joab
31  and mourns for Abner

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 3:27 mean?

And when had returned Abner to Hebron and took him Joab in aside the gate to speak with him privately and stabbed him there in the stomach so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother
וַיָּ֤שָׁב אַבְנֵר֙ חֶבְר֔וֹן וַיַּטֵּ֤הוּ יוֹאָב֙ אֶל־ תּ֣וֹךְ הַשַּׁ֔עַר לְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ בַּשֶּׁ֑לִי וַיַּכֵּ֤הוּ שָׁם֙ הַחֹ֔מֶשׁ וַיָּ֕מָת בְּדַ֖ם עֲשָׂה־ אֵ֥ל אָחִֽיו

וַיָּ֤שָׁב  And  when  had  returned 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
אַבְנֵר֙  Abner 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִינֵר 
Sense: Saul’s cousin and army captain, treacherously slain by Joab.
חֶבְר֔וֹן  to  Hebron 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶבְרֹון 
Sense: a city in south Judah approx 20 south of Jerusalem and approx 20 miles (30 km) north of Beersheba and near where Abraham built an altar.
וַיַּטֵּ֤הוּ  and  took  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
יוֹאָב֙  Joab 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄואָב  
Sense: son of David’s sister Zeruiah and general of David’s army.
תּ֣וֹךְ  aside 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: תָּוֶךְ  
Sense: midst, middle.
הַשַּׁ֔עַר  the  gate 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁעַר  
Sense: gate.
לְדַבֵּ֥ר  to  speak 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
אִתּ֖וֹ  with  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
בַּשֶּׁ֑לִי  privately 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שְׁלִי  
Sense: quiet, private, quietness.
וַיַּכֵּ֤הוּ  and  stabbed  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
הַחֹ֔מֶשׁ  in  the  stomach 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹמֶשׁ  
Sense: belly, abdomen, fifth ribs.
וַיָּ֕מָת  so  that  he  died 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
בְּדַ֖ם  for  the  blood 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
אֵ֥ל  Asahel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֲשָׂהאֵל  
Sense: nephew of David, son of David’s sister Zeruiah, and brother of Joab and Abishai; swift of foot he was killed by Abner when he pursued him in battle and caught him.
אָחִֽיו  his  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.