2 Samuel 2:18-23

GOD’S WORD Translation

¹⁸ Zeruiah’s three sons were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as fast on his feet as a wild gazelle. ¹⁹ He chased Abner and refused to leave him alone. ²⁰ When Abner looked back, he asked, “Are you Asahel?”

“Yes,” Asahel answered.

²¹ Abner told him, “Leave me alone! Catch one of the young men, and take his weapon.”

But Asahel refused to turn away from him. ²² So Abner spoke again to Asahel. “Stop following me,” he said. “Why should I kill you? How could I look your brother Joab in the face again?”

²³ But Asahel refused to turn away. So Abner struck him with the butt of the spear. The spear went into his belly and came out his back. He fell down there and died on the spot. And everyone who came to the place where Asahel fell and died stopped there.