¹⁸ Now ^(A)the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel; and Asahel was ^(B)as ^[a]swift-footed as one of the gazelles which is in the field. ¹⁹ And Asahel pursued Abner and did not ^[b]turn to the right or to the left from following Abner. ²⁰ Then Abner turned to look behind him and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” And he answered, “It is I.” ²¹ So Abner said to him, “^[c]Turn to your right or to your left, and seize one of the young men for yourself, and take for yourself his spoil.” But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him. ²² And Abner repeated again to Asahel, “Turn ^[d]aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? ^(C)How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?” ²³ However, he refused to turn aside; therefore Abner struck him in the belly with the butt end of the spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died on the spot. And it happened that all who came to the place where ^(D)Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.