2 Samuel 2:18-23

International Standard Version

Abner Kills Joab’s Brother Asahel

¹⁸ Zeruiah’s three sons Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were there. As a runner, Asahel was fast, like one of the wild gazelles. ¹⁹ So Asahel ran straight^[a] after Abner, following him. ²⁰ When Abner looked behind him, he said, “Is that you, Asahel?”

He answered, “I am.”

²¹ Abner told him, “Go off to your right or left after one of the young men and grab some war spoils.” But Asahel would not stop following him, ²² so Abner told Asahel again, “Stop following me. Why should I strike you down? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?”

²³ But Asahel^[b] refused to turn away, so Abner struck Asahel in the abdomen with the butt end of his spear, and the spear protruded through his back. He collapsed to the ground and died where he fell. Everyone gathered round the place where Asahel had collapsed and died, and stood still there.