2 Samuel 3:27

“And when Abner was returned to Hebron, etc.] Alone, and not the twenty men with him; not to David’s court, but just to the city, to the gate of it: Joab took him aside in the gate: where he was waiting for him, and met him; this was a public place, where people were continually passing and repassing, and where courts of judicature used to be held; wherefore Abner might think himself safe here with Joab, and have no suspicion at all of his design, and shows how fearless Joab was of God or men: to speak with him quietly; peaceably, in a friendly manner, as all his gestures towards him showed; so that Abner made no difficulty of turning aside with him, supposing he had something to communicate…”

“3:27 as if to speak with him privately: Joab accused Abner of deception (3:25), but he used deception himself to lure Abner to his death. • in revenge: Joab was motivated by the practice of blood vengeance, avenging the death of a kinsman by killing the killer.”

“took him: Sa2 20:9, Sa2 20:10; Deu 27:24; Kg1 2:5, Kg1 2:32 quietly: or, peaceably, Jer 41:2, Jer 41:6, Jer 41:7 and smote: Joab was afraid that Abner, after rendering such essential service to David, would be made the general of the army; and therefore, under pretence of avenging the death of his brother, he treacherously assassinated the unsuspecting and too-confiding Abner, and such was the power of this cool-blooded and nefarious murderer, that the king dared not bring him to justice for his crime. But, while Joab's conduct cannot be too severely reprobated, the justice of God is apparent in Abner's punishment; who, from ambition, had pertinaciously, against his conscience, opposed the…”