Place Old Testament
Sirah
Also known as cistern of
Sirah, also called the Cistern of Sirah, was a place near Hebron where Joab killed Abner in revenge for the death of his brother Asahel (2Sam. 3:26). Mentioned once in Scripture, at 2 Samuel 3:26.
Why it matters. Place near Hebron where Abner was killed by Joab
- Primary passages
- Location
- 31.550, 35.100 (approximate, within about 2 km)
Coordinates from STEPBible TIPNR (palopenmaps.org link). Approximate; not independently verified.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
About Sirah
Sirah, also known as the Cistern of Sirah, is mentioned in the account of the murder of Abner by Joab (2Sam. 3:26). Abner, who had been the commander of Saul's army, had recently defected to David's side after a dispute with Ish-bosheth, Saul's son. Joab, David's military commander, held a grudge against Abner for killing his brother Asahel in battle (2Sam. 2:18-23).
When Abner left David's presence at Hebron, Joab sent messengers after him and brought him back from the Cistern of Sirah. Upon Abner's return, Joab took him aside and stabbed him to death in revenge for his brother's killing (2Sam. 3:27).
The exact location of Sirah is not specified in the biblical text, but it was apparently a well-known landmark near Hebron. The name "Sirah" may be derived from the Hebrew word "sur," meaning "to turn aside" or "to depart," possibly indicating a place where travelers would stop or turn off the main road.
David, who had not authorized Abner's murder, mourned his death and publicly cursed Joab and his family for their treachery (2Sam. 3:28-39). This incident highlights the complex political situation during the early years of David's reign and the challenges he faced in uniting the kingdom under his rule.
Description from STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0, lightly reformatted. This is background reference material, not Scripture and not a FaithGraph editorial claim.
Connections
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Appears in Scripture
Named in 1 verse across 1 book. Occurrence data from STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0); references only, no translation text.
2 Samuel (1 verse)