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 1  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. 2  How then could I show 3  my face in the presence of Joab your brother?” 2:23 But Asahel 4  refused to turn aside. So Abner struck him in the abdomen with the back end of his 5  spear. The spear came out his back; Asahel 6  collapsed on the spot and died there right before Abner. 7  Everyone who now comes to the place where Asahel fell dead pauses in respect. 8 

1 tn Heb “young men.” So also elsewhere.

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

3 tn Heb “lift.”

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

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

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

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

8 tn Heb “and they stand.”