And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
Just then, David's soldiers and Joab returned from chasing enemy raiders, bringing back a large amount of stolen goods they had recovered. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron because David had already sent him away safely.
The writer is setting up a tragic situation where Joab returns from battle to find that Abner, his enemy, has already left peacefully after making an agreement with David.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 2 Samuel, David had recently been anointed as king over Judah in Hebron, while the rest of Israel was still loyal to Saul's son Ish-Bosheth, leading to ongoing conflicts and alliances. Abner, who was the commander of Saul's army, had defected to David's side after a falling out with Ish-Bosheth, and he visited David in Hebron to negotiate peace. This verse describes the return of David's forces from a military pursuit, highlighting that Abner had already been sent away in peace by David, setting the stage for the subsequent events of betrayal and revenge.
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