2 Samuel 3:33

“And the king lamented over Abner, etc.] Delivered an elegy or funeral oration, which he had composed on this occasion, as Josephus f71 suggests: for he had cried and wept before, but now he expressed something as follows: and said, died Abner as a fool dieth? the meaning of the interrogation is, he did not; the Targum is “did Abner die as wicked men die?” no, he did not; he did not die for any wickedness he had been guilty of; he did not die as a malefactor, whose crime has been charged and proved in open court, and sentence of condemnation pronounced on him righteously for it; but he died without anything being laid to his charge, and much less proved, and without judge or jury; he was…”

“the king lamented over Abner--This brief elegy is an effusion of indignation as much as of sorrow. As Abner had stabbed Asahel in open war [Sa2 2:23], Joab had not the right of the Goel. Besides, he had adopted a lawless and execrable method of obtaining satisfaction (see on Kg1 2:5). The deed was an insult to the authority, as well as most damaging to the prospects of the king. But David's feelings and conduct on hearing of the death, together with the whole character and accompaniments of the funeral solemnity, tended not only to remove all suspicion of guilt from him, but even to turn the tide of popular opinion in his favor, and to pave the way for his reigning over all the tribes more…”

“Lamented - i. e. composed and sang the funeral dirge which follows (compare 2 Samuel 1:17). Died Abner ... - i. e. The great and noble and valiant Abner had died as ignobly and as helplessly as the meanest churl! return to 'Top of Page'”

“As a fool - That is, as a wicked man. Was he cut off by the hand of justice for his crimes? Nothing less; but by Joab's malice and treachery. It is a sad thing to die as a fool dieth, as they do that any way shorten their own days: and indeed all they that make no provision for another world. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 3:34”

“3:33 as fools die: Abner was deceived by Joab, an enemy who posed as a friend (see 3:27).”

“as a fool dieth: That is, as a bad man, as the word frequently signifies in Scripture. Sa2 13:12, Sa2 13:13, Sa2 13:28, Sa2 13:29; Pro 18:7; Ecc 2:15, Ecc 2:16; Jer 17:11; Luk 12:19, Luk 12:20 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 3:34”