יא (שמואל ב ג, כו) ויצא יואב מעם דוד וישלח מלאכים אחרי אבנר וישיבו אותו מבור הסירה מאי בור הסירה אמר רבי אבא בר כהנא בור וסירה גרמו לו לאבנר שיהרג
11 caused Abner to bekilled.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The explanation of this statement is found in J. Sotah I, where one of the reasons given for Abner's death was his indifference to the effecting of a reconciliation between Saul and David, instead of seeking which, he rather endeavoured to increase their hatred. He did not take advantage of the following two occasions when he might have brought about the reconciliation: One, when Saul entered the cave of En-Gedi where David and his band were hidden, and the latter, though he could have destroyed his pursuer, contented himself with merely cutting off the skirt of his robe (I Sam. XXIV, 4). The second time, in the wilderness of Ziph, when David found Saul sleeping and took the spear and jug of water from beside his head (ibid. XXIV, 12ff), subsequently reproaching Abner for not watching better over the King. Abner, however, made nought of this generous treatment of Saul by David, contending that the jug of water might have been given to David by one of the servants, whilst the skirt of the robe might have been torn away by a thorn-bush, and left hanging. These two incidents are hinted at in the words Bor (well, i.e., a jug of water), and Sira (a thorn-bush). ');"><sup>29</sup></span> And Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with himquietly.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' II Sam. III, 27. ');"><sup>30</sup></span> R. Johanan said: He judgedhim according to the law of theSanhedrin.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This is inferred from the word 'gate', frequently denoting 'court'; cf. Deut. XXI, 19. ');"><sup>31</sup></span>