* took him.
  20:9,10  De 27:24  1Ki 2:5,32 
 * quietly.  or, peaceably.
  Jer 41:2,6,7 
 * 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 declared
   will of God; and was induced by base resentment to desert
   Ish-bosheth, and offer his services to David:  see ver. 6-10;
   4:6.

 * for the blood.
  2:19-23