Took him aside into the midst of the gate: the word midst is misleading although it is based on the Hebrew text. Many scholars feel that the Hebrew text available today does not represent what the original author wrote. Some manuscript evidence points to the possibility that the original word meant “the side” rather than “the middle,” although the reading “the side” is rejected by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project and Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament. The layout of a typical city gate in biblical times is totally foreign to most readers today. It was, in fact, a whole building, and, in addition to the opening in the wall that permitted people to enter and leave the city, there were on either side (and sometimes above the gate) small rooms where various activities took place. Joab probably took Abner into one of these secluded places where their movements would not be noticed by the crowds of people around the gate area. In view of the textual variant, many versions say something like “took him aside,” but the meaning is made clearer in Contemporary English Version, “took Abner into one of the small rooms that were part of the town gate.”

Smote: this word is not a part of current English vocabulary. New Revised Standard Version has revised it to give the meaning in the common language of today, “stabbed.” That Joab stabbed Abner in the belly recalls the way in which Abner had earlier killed Joab’s brother (see 2.23).

For the blood of Asahel: in such a context as this the blood of a person is a way of talking about his or her death. It will be better in most cases to say more precisely “because of the death of Asahel.”

His brother: the translation should leave no doubt as to whose brother Asahel was. Since the wording of Revised Standard Version is ambiguous, Good News Translation has specified “Joab’s brother.” Some old Greek manuscripts, in fact, have the name, Joab, instead of the pronoun here.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .