Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 3:29
Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
29. let it rest ] Let it fall. The Heb. word is a forcible one, expressing the energy of David’s indignation. It is used in Jer 23:19; Jer 30:23, of the whirlwind of God’s wrath falling upon the head of the wicked.
one that hath an issue, or that is a leper ] Pining away miserably with incurable diseases, which not only made life a burden, but rendered their victim ceremonially unclean, and excluded him from the congregation of the Lord (Lev 13:46).
that leaneth on a staff ] A cripple, lame, or blind. The word translated staff means elsewhere distaff (Pro 31:19), and the phrase may also be rendered as it is in the Vulgate “distaff holder” ( tenens fusum). This would signify ‘a weak, effeminate man, unfit for war,’ as “Hercules with the distaff” was the type of unmanly feebleness among the Greeks. But this explanation seems forced, and the E. V. is supported by the Sept. and Targum.
that falleth on the sword ] Render, “ by the sword.” The E. V. suggests the idea of suicide, but untimely death in battle or by the hand of an assassin is meant.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The curse of David proves that Joab was not justified as blood-revenger or Goel 2Sa 3:27 in taking away Abners life.
That leaneth on a staff – Rather, a crutch. The phrase denotes one lame or infirm. For similar instances of hereditary disease and poverty as a punishment of great sin, see 1Sa 2:31-33, 1Sa 2:36; 2Ki 5:27; Joh 9:2.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 29. Let it rest on the head] All these verbs may be rendered in the future tense: it will rest on the head of Joab, &c. This was a prophetic declaration, which sufficiently showed the displeasure of God against this execrable man.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Let it rest, i.e. this blood, the guilt and punishment of it.
And on all his fathers house. But children were not to suffer for their parents sin, Deu 24:16; and therefore either this was only a prediction; or, if it were an imprecation, David may seem to have transgressed his bounds, and mingled his passion with his zeal, that so he might express his utter detestation of this horrid murder, and how far he was from having any hand in it.
An issue was not only a troublesome and shameful disease, but also infectious, both to him that had it, and to all that touched him; so that whilst it was upon a man, he was cut off in a great part from converse either with God or men.
That leaneth on a staff, through craziness, or feebleness, or lameness, whereby he is rendered unfit for action and public service.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Let it rest on the head of Joab,…. That is, the blood of Abner, who was the shedder of it; let the guilt of it be charged to him, and let punishment for it be inflicted on him:
and on all his father’s house; on Abishai his brother, and other relations that might be privy to the death of Abner, and advising to it, and ready to assist in it if necessary:
and let there not fail from the house of Joab; let there be always in his family, and of his seed, one or other of the persons described as follows:
one that hath an issue; a gonorrhoea, which was reckoned infamous, and very impure, according to the Jewish law, and rendered persons unfit for society; see Le 15:1;
or that is a leper; whose disease was very loathsome and infectious, and shut him out of the company of men; see Le 13:1;
or that leaneth on a staff; being blind, as Aquila renders the word; or through weakness of body, not being able to walk without one; or through some disease of the feet, as the Jewish writers generally understand it; and R. Isaiah interprets it of the gout particularly: the word for “staff” is rendered “spindle”, Pr 31:19; and to this sense it is rendered here in, the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions; and then the meaning is, let his posterity, or some of them, be so poor, that they shall be obliged to get their livelihood in so mean a way as by spinning; or let them be of such an effeminate disposition, as be more fit to handle the spindle, and do the, work of women, than to use the sword:
or that falleth on the sword; not by it honourably in the field of battle, but cowardly destroying themselves with it:
or that lacketh bread; and is obliged to beg it: all which David might say, not by a spirit of prophecy, but in a passion; and to show with what horror he resented the action, and how detestable it was to him, and how far it was for him to have any concern in it: but though it was a very wicked action in Joab to murder Abner in this manner, and for the reasons he did; yet it was a just vengeance from the Lord on Abner for fighting against God, and acting against the dictates of his own conscience; for his rebellion against David, and perfidy to Ishbosheth, and for having been the cause of much bloodshed in Israel.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(29) Let it rest on the head of Joab.The strong curse here pronounced by David shows that Joabs act could not be justified as that of the Goel, or lawful avenger of his brothers blood, for Abner had slain Asahel in battle, unwillingly and in self-defence. It is also to be remembered that Hebron was a city of refuge (Jos. 21:13), and that here not even the Goel might slay the murderer without a trial (Num. 35:22-25). The curse falls on his fathers house, since Abishai also (2Sa. 3:30) had been concerned with him in the murder.
The phrase, that leaneth on a staff, has been understood by many as holding a distaff, i.e., a person unfit for war. The word has the sense of distaff in Pro. 31:19, and is so rendered here by the Vulgate; but the sense given by the Englishwhich is also that of the LXX. and Targumis better, and more in accordance with the other particulars.
For on the sword read by the sword, there being no reference to the idea of suicide. On the violent end of Joab see 1Ki. 2:31-34.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
29. Let there not fail from the house of Joab Let that house always be afflicted by having constantly among its members those distressed with an issue, that is, gonorrhea, (Lev 15:2.) or leprosy, or lameness, or poverty, or those that suffer assassination or some similarly violent death.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Sa 3:29. Let it rest on the head of Joab Houbigant very properly renders this in the future tense, but it shall, or will rest upon the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house, and there will not fail, &c. by which rendering every thing doubtful in the text is removed. The king commanded a general mourning to be made for Abner; and it is remarkable, that the command begins with Joab. David wept over Abner, and buried him with all solemnity, himself attending the bier, which was not the custom of kings; and he added a lamentation (2Sa 3:33.) which every eye will discern to be truly poetic in the most literal translation, though none have pretended to determine the measure.
As dies the criminal, shall Abner die? Thy hands not bound, Nor to the fetters were thy feet applied: As is their fate that fall Before the faces of the sons of guilt, So art thou fallen.
Josephus says, that David interred Abner magnificently, and that he wrote funeral lamentations to his honour; i.e. as some suppose, he raised a magnificent tomb for him, and engraved upon it an epitaph in his praise.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Sa 3:29 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
Ver. 29. Let there not fail from the house of Joab. ] This lamentable legacy Joab left his children. So do all these peremptores potius quam parentes, that bequeath their sins and punishments to their wretched posterity.
One that hath an issue.
Or that leaneth on a staff.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
rest: 2Sa 1:16, Jdg 9:24, Jdg 9:56, Jdg 9:57, 1Ki 2:31-34, Act 28:4, Rev 16:6
let there: 1Sa 2:32-36, 2Ki 5:27, Psa 109:8-19
fail: Heb. be cut off
an issue: Lev 13:44-46, 2Ki 5:1
Reciprocal: Exo 21:19 – upon his staff Lev 13:2 – the plague of leprosy Lev 15:2 – when any man Jos 2:19 – his blood 1Sa 25:39 – hath returned 2Sa 13:21 – he was very wroth 2Sa 14:9 – and the king 2Sa 14:19 – of Joab 2Sa 16:8 – the blood 2Sa 19:13 – room of Joab 1Ki 2:33 – return upon 2Ki 15:5 – the Lord Psa 109:10 – General Psa 109:14 – Let the Jer 33:17 – David shall never want Dan 6:14 – and he Mat 27:25 – His Mar 1:40 – a leper