(a) How did David react to the assassination of Abner? (b) Indicate two lessons that can be learnt from this incident.

Answer Details

(a) How David reacted to the assassination of Abner (2 Samuel 3:22-39)

• Abner, Saul's former army commander, had come in peace to hand the kingdom over to David, and David had sent him away safely.
• Joab, David's commander, secretly recalled Abner and murdered him at the gate of Hebron to avenge the death of his brother Asahel.
• When David heard of it, he publicly declared that he and his kingdom were forever innocent of Abner's blood before the LORD.
• He pronounced a curse upon Joab and his father's house, that they should never lack sufferers of disease, violent death and want.
• He commanded Joab and all the people to tear their clothes, put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner.
• David himself walked behind the bier in the funeral procession and wept aloud at the grave.
• He composed and sang a lament over Abner, mourning that he had died like a fool though he was not a criminal.
• He fasted, refusing to eat any food until sunset, which pleased all the people and convinced them the king had no part in the murder.

(b) Two lessons that can be learnt

• Treachery and murder are evil and must be openly condemned, even when the culprit is a close and powerful associate.
• A good leader must be transparent and just, publicly dissociating himself from wrongdoing so as to keep the trust and confidence of the people; also, God repays evildoers according to their deeds.