2 Samuel 3:25
“You know Abner the son of Ner. He came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do.””
What does 2 Samuel 3:25 mean?
Joab is warning King David about Abner, a military commander from the rival kingdom, who has just made peace overtures and visited David's court. Joab suspects Abner's motives aren't genuine—he thinks Abner came to spy, to gather intelligence about David's movements and routines so he could report back or plan an attack. The warning captures a real tension: sometimes people come to us with friendly faces but hidden agendas, and discernment matters. Whether Joab's suspicion was accurate or rooted in his own rivalry with Abner (the text leaves this ambiguous), the verse reminds us that it's wise to think carefully about others' intentions, especially when trust has been broken in the past or when stakes are high.