2 Samuel 2:18-23
New English Translation
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]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Samuel 2:21 tn Heb “young men.” So also elsewhere.
- 2 Samuel 2:22 tn Heb “Why should I strike you to the ground?”
- 2 Samuel 2:22 tn Heb “lift.”
- 2 Samuel 2:23 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Asahel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Samuel 2:23 tn Heb “the.” The article functions here as a possessive pronoun.
- 2 Samuel 2:23 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Asahel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Samuel 2:23 tn Heb “him”; the referent (Abner) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Samuel 2:23 tn Heb “and they stand.”
2 Samuel 2:18-23
New Living Translation
The Death of Asahel
18 Joab, Abishai, and Asahel—the three sons of Zeruiah—were among David’s forces that day. Asahel could run like a gazelle, 19 and he began chasing Abner. He pursued him relentlessly, not stopping for anything. 20 When Abner looked back and saw him coming, he called out, “Is that you, Asahel?”
“Yes, it is,” he replied.
21 “Go fight someone else!” Abner warned. “Take on one of the younger men, and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel kept right on chasing Abner.
22 Again Abner shouted to him, “Get away from here! I don’t want to kill you. How could I ever face your brother Joab again?”
23 But Asahel refused to turn back, so Abner thrust the butt end of his spear through Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He stumbled to the ground and died there. And everyone who came by that spot stopped and stood still when they saw Asahel lying there.
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