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.) ¹⁹ Asahel chased Abner, without turning to the right or to the left as he followed Abner.

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