⁶ David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite^(A) and Abishai^(B) son of Zeruiah,^(C) Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?”

“I’ll go with you,” said Abishai.

²² David replied, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah?^(A) What right do you have to interfere? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today?^(B) Don’t I know that today I am king over Israel?”

⁹ Then Abishai^(A) son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog^(B) curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”^(C)

¹⁰ But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah?^(D) If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”^(E)

¹¹ David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son,^(F) my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.^(G)

³⁹ And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah^(A) are too strong^(B) for me.^(C) May the Lord repay^(D) the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”

¹⁸ The three sons of Zeruiah^(A) were there: Joab,^(B) Abishai^(C) and Asahel.^(D) Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle.^{(E) 19} He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him. ²⁰ Abner looked behind him and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?”

“It is,” he answered.

²¹ Then Abner said to him, “Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.

²² Again Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?”^(F)

²³ But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel’s stomach,^(G) and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.^(H)