2 Samuel 2:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Abner said again to Asahel, "Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?"

NIV: Again Abner warned Asahel, "Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?"

NASB: Then Abner repeated again to Asahel, 'Turn aside for your own good from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I show my face to your brother Joab?'

CSB: Once again, Abner warned Asahel, "Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I ever look your brother Joab in the face?"

NLT: 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?'

KJV: And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?

NKJV: So Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I face your brother Joab?”

Relationships in wartime are often a mix of respect and revenge. For instance, David's relationship to the Philistines in Gath: David killed Goliath of Gath (1 Samuel 17:50). Years later, David found refuge from Saul in Gath (1 Samuel 27:1–4). He deceived the king so much that he and his army were pressed into a war with Saul—which God allowed him to avoid (1 Samuel 28:1–2; 29). Later, David will conquer Gath (1 Chronicles 18:1).Abner and Joab have been on opposite sides since David's family joined him in exile (1 Samuel 22:1). That doesn't mean they don't respect each other. Abner saw Joab's older brother Abishai with David when David spared Saul's life as Abner slept next to the king (1 Samuel 26:6–16). He may not know that Abishai wanted to kill Saul in that moment and only David stopped him, but Abner knows and respects Joab and his brothers.

That includes the younger brother, Asahel. Unfortunately, Asahel seems to think he can defeat Abner. Asahel is fast and a great warrior, but he can't win against a much more experienced opponent. Abner doesn't want to kill him. So he first tempts Asahel by suggesting he find a weaker soldier he take spoils from (2 Samuel 2:18–21). Now, Abner resorts to honor: how can he look Joab in the face if he kills Joab's brother?

Asahel doesn't stop. Abner is forced to kill him in self-defense. And Abner is right: Joab doesn't let it go. Two years later, on the cusp of peace, Joab will murder Abner (2 Samuel 3:26–27).

Second Samuel 2:18–23 describes how Abner kills Asahel. The men of Judah have made David king of their tribe; Abner, Saul's general, has made Ish-bosheth king of the rest of Israel (2 Samuel 2:1–4, 8–11). The civil war begins with twelve duels (2 Samuel 2:12–17) and devolves into open warfare. Abner is losing and flees. Asahel, the brother of David's commander Joab, gives chase. Abner reluctantly kills Asahel. Abner convinces Joab to call off the fight (2 Samuel 2:24–28), for now. Within two years, Abner will betray Ish-bosheth and give David Israel, and Joab will avenge his Asahel (2 Samuel 3).

David returns to Israel, where he is anointed king over Judah, and settles in Hebron. Abner declares Saul's son Ish-bosheth king over Israel. David blesses the men of Jabesh-gilead for burying Saul's remains. Abner, leading Ish-bosheth's men, faces off against Joab, leading David's fighters, at Gibeon. In a fierce, one-sided battle, Abner kills Joab's brother, but David's men overwhelm Abner's Benjaminite fighters, losing twenty but killing 360. Abner and the survivors prepare for a last stand on the hill of Ammah, but Joab calls off the battle when Abner pleads with him to stop. Both sides return home.

Saul and three of his sons are dead (1 Samuel 31:1–4). David becomes king of Judah, and Saul's son Ish-bosheth is king of the remaining tribes. When the two sides meet in battle, Ish-bosheth's army fares poorly. David continues to grow stronger over two years of fighting. Ish-bosheth's general Abner appears to make a futile attempt to take the crown from his king, then starts the work to peacefully hand David the crown of Israel (2 Samuel 3:1–12).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.