Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel. The Hebrew word for revenge, naqam, isn’t used directly here, but the idea is clear—this is about settling a score. In a society built on honor, the expectation was to avenge family blood. But this verse also shows how personal loss can spiral into more violence, even among supposed allies. It challenges the idea that retaliation brings closure; instead, it often leads to more pain and division. For anyone who’s lost someone or felt wronged, this verse is a stark look at how acting out of hurt can deepen wounds rather than heal them. It’s a call to consider what cycles we’re caught in, and whether revenge really delivers what we hope it will.