2nd Samuel Chapter 3 verse 26 Holy Bible
And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
read chapter 3 in ASV
And when Joab had come out from David, he sent men after Abner, and they overtook him at the water-spring of Sirah, and made him come back with them: but David had no knowledge of it.
read chapter 3 in BBE
And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him again from the well of Sirah; but David did not know it.
read chapter 3 in DARBY
And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
read chapter 3 in KJV
And when Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
read chapter 3 in WBT
When Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah: but David didn't know it.
read chapter 3 in WEB
And Joab goeth out from David, and sendeth messengers after Abner, and they bring him back from the well of Sirah, and David knew not.
read chapter 3 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 26. - The well - Hebrew, cistern - of Sirah. Josephus ('Ant.,' 8.1. 5) says that this cistern was situated about two miles and a half north of Hebron. There was probably a caravanserai there, at which Abner halted, intending to continue his march homewards as soon as the coolness of evening set in. Here Joab's messengers overtook him, and, speaking in David's name - for otherwise Abner would not have fallen into the trap - asked him to return for further conference, mentioning, perhaps, Joab's arrival as the reason. In this way Abner's suspicions would be set at rest, and it would seem quite natural for him to find Joab waiting for him at the gate.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(26) Sent messengers after Abner.--Whether this was done in his own or in David's name (though without his knowledge) does not appear, but in either case Abner would readily suppose that the coming of Joab had made further conference desirable. His entire confidence in David is shown by his unsuspecting return.The well of Sirah.--The only knowledge of this locality is from the testimony of Josephus (Antt. vii. 1, 5), that it was twenty stadia (two and a half miles) from Hebron; and there is still a spring and reservoir called Ain Sareh, rather more than a mile north of the town. If this is correct, Abner must have just left David when Joab arrived.
