2 Samuel 2:18-23

2:18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there – Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. (Now Asahel was as quick on his feet as one of the gazelles in the field.) 2:19 Asahel chased Abner, without turning to the right or to the left as he followed Abner.

2:20 Then Abner turned and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?” He replied, “Yes it is!” 2:21 Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right or to your left. Capture one of the soldiers and take his equipment for yourself!” But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him. 2:22 So Abner spoke again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me! I do not want to strike you to the ground. How then could I show my face in the presence of Joab your brother?” 2:23 But Asahel refused to turn aside. So Abner struck him in the abdomen with the back end of his spear. The spear came out his back; Asahel collapsed on the spot and died there right before Abner. Everyone who now comes to the place where Asahel fell dead pauses in respect.


tn Heb “young men.” So also elsewhere.

tn Heb “Why should I strike you to the ground?”

tn Heb “lift.”

tn Heb “he”; the referent (Asahel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

tn Heb “the.” The article functions here as a possessive pronoun.

tn Heb “he”; the referent (Asahel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

tn Heb “him”; the referent (Abner) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

tn Heb “and they stand.”