Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him. New Living Translation and he began chasing Abner. He pursued him relentlessly, not stopping for anything. English Standard Version And Asahel pursued Abner, and as he went, he turned neither to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. Berean Standard Bible and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit. King James Bible And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. New King James Version So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner. New American Standard Bible Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn to the right or to the left from following Abner. NASB 1995 Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn to the right or to the left from following Abner. NASB 1977 And Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn to the right or to the left from following Abner. Legacy Standard Bible And Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn to the right or to the left from following Abner. Amplified Bible Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn to the right or to the left as he followed him. Christian Standard Bible He chased Abner and did not turn to the right or the left in his pursuit of him. Holman Christian Standard Bible He chased Abner and did not turn to the right or the left in his pursuit of him. American Standard Version And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. Contemporary English Version and he ran straight after Abner, without looking to the right or to the left. English Revised Version And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. GOD'S WORD® Translation He chased Abner and refused to leave him alone. Good News Translation started chasing Abner, running straight for him. International Standard Version So Asahel ran straight after Abner, following him. Majority Standard Bible and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit. NET Bible Asahel chased Abner, without turning to the right or to the left as he followed Abner. New Heart English Bible Asahel pursued after Abner, and as he went he did not turn to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. Webster's Bible Translation And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. World English Bible Asahel pursued Abner. He didn’t turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand Asahel pursues after Abner, and has not turned aside to go to the right or to the left, from after Abner. Young's Literal Translation And Asahel pursueth after Abner, and hath not turned aside to go to the right or to the left, from after Abner. Smith's Literal Translation And Asahel will pursue after Abner; and he turned not to the right or to the left from after Abner. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Asael pursued after Abner, and turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. Catholic Public Domain Version And Asahel pursued Abner, and he did not turn aside to the right, nor to the left, to cease in the pursuit of Abner. New American Bible set out after Abner, turning neither right nor left in his pursuit. New Revised Standard Version Asahel pursued Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he followed him. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Ashael pursued Abner; and he turned not to the right hand nor to the left as he followed Abner. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Shayel chased after Abnir and he did not turn aside to go to the right or to the left after Abnir OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. Brenton Septuagint Translation And Asael followed after Abenner, and turned not to go to the right hand or to the left from following Abenner. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context War Between the Houses of David and Saul…18The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle, 19and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit. 20And Abner glanced back and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” “It is,” Asahel replied.… Cross References 1 Samuel 26:8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Now, therefore, please let me thrust the spear through him into the ground with one stroke. I will not need to strike him twice!” 1 Kings 2:5 Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. 1 Chronicles 11:20-21 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Three, and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three. / He was doubly honored above the Three, and he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three. 1 Chronicles 12:2 they were archers using both the right and left hands to sling stones and shoot arrows; and they were Saul’s kinsmen from Benjamin): 1 Chronicles 27:4 Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division for the second month, and Mikloth was the leader. There were 24,000 men in his division. 2 Samuel 23:18-19 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three. / Was he not more honored than the Three? And he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three. Judges 20:45-46 Then the Benjamites turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and Israel cut down 5,000 men on the roads. And they overtook them at Gidom and struck down 2,000 more. / That day 25,000 Benjamite swordsmen fell, all men of valor. 1 Samuel 17:39 David strapped his sword over the tunic and tried to walk, but he was not accustomed to them. “I cannot walk in these,” David said to Saul. “I am not accustomed to them.” So David took them off. 1 Samuel 18:11 and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. 1 Samuel 20:33 Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan to kill him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to kill David. 1 Samuel 24:10 Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’ 1 Samuel 26:6 And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered Abishai. 1 Samuel 26:15 So David said to Abner, “You are a man, aren’t you? And who in Israel is your equal? Why then did you not protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him? 1 Samuel 26:22 “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of the young men come over and get it. 1 Samuel 31:2 The Philistines hotly pursued Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. Treasury of Scripture And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. turned 2 Samuel 2:21 And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. Joshua 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 23:6 Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; following Abner [heb] after Abner Jump to Previous Abner Asahel As'ahel Chased Following Hand Pursued Pursueth Right Running Turn Turned TurningJump to Next Abner Asahel As'ahel Chased Following Hand Pursued Pursueth Right Running Turn Turned Turning2 Samuel 2 1. David, by God's direction, with his company goes up to Hebron 4. where he is made king of Judah 5. He commends them of Jabesh Gilead for their king of Israel 8. Abner makes Ishbosheth king of Israel 12. A mortal skirmish between twelve of Abner's and twelve of Joab's men. 18. Asahel is slain 25. At Abner's motion, Joab sounds a retreat 32. Asahel's burial So Asahel pursued Abner The name "Asahel" means "God has made" or "God has created," reflecting a divine purpose or calling. Asahel was one of the sons of Zeruiah, David's sister, making him David's nephew and a member of the royal family. His pursuit of Abner, the commander of Saul's army, signifies a moment of intense personal and national conflict. Historically, this pursuit occurs during a time of civil war between the house of Saul and the house of David. Asahel's actions demonstrate youthful zeal and bravery, but also foreshadow the tragic consequences of unchecked ambition and the complexities of loyalty and family ties in the biblical narrative. and in his single-minded pursuit of Abner he did not turn to the right or to the left Persons / Places / Events 1. AsahelAsahel was one of the sons of Zeruiah, David's sister, making him David's nephew. Known for his swiftness, Asahel was a valiant warrior and one of David's mighty men. 2. Abner Abner was the son of Ner and the commander of Saul's army. He was a significant military leader and played a crucial role in the power struggles following Saul's death. 3. Pursuit The event described is part of a larger conflict between the forces of David and those loyal to Saul's house. Asahel's pursuit of Abner is a key moment in this conflict, highlighting themes of loyalty, bravery, and the tragic consequences of war. Teaching Points The Dangers of Single-Minded PursuitAsahel's relentless pursuit of Abner, without considering the potential consequences, serves as a cautionary tale. In our lives, we must balance determination with wisdom and discernment. Understanding the Cost of Conflict The pursuit and subsequent events highlight the personal and communal costs of conflict. As Christians, we are called to be peacemakers and to seek reconciliation wherever possible. The Importance of Spiritual Focus Asahel's unwavering focus can inspire us to maintain our spiritual focus on Christ. However, we must ensure that our pursuits align with God's will and purpose for our lives. Family and Loyalty Asahel's actions reflect his loyalty to David, his uncle. This loyalty, while commendable, also reminds us to evaluate our allegiances and ensure they are rooted in righteousness and truth.(19) Asahel pursued after Abner.--Asahel, the youngest of the three nephews of David, took part in the battle with his elder brothers, and well knowing how completely the cause of Ish-bosheth depended upon Abner, pertinaciously sought him out in the pursuit. His great fleetness enabled him to overtake Abner and, coming behind him, endanger his life. Abner was unwilling to injure him, and only after remonstrating with him, and urging him to seek the spoil of some warrior more nearly his equal (2Samuel 2:20-22), did he unwillingly slay him "with the hinder end of his spear." The spears were sharpened at the "hinder end" for the purpose of sticking them into the ground (1Samuel 26:7). Abner's reluctance to kill Asahel may have been partly on account of his extreme youth, but was chiefly through dread of the vengeance of Joab (2Samuel 2:22). "The fifth rib" here, and wherever else it occurs (2Samuel 3:27; 2Samuel 4:6; 2Samuel 20:10), should be translated abdomen. . . . Verse 19. - Asahel pursued after Abner. This episode is fully narrated, both because of Asahel's rank as David's nephew, and also because of its tragical consequences to Abner himself. Asahel was a son of Zeruiah, David's sister, and, while his own brothers were of little use to him, his nephews, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel, were the mainstays of David's throne. As their father's name is never mentioned, but only the mother's, Zeruiah was probably a woman of great ability, and her sons inherited it from her. Possibly she had married beneath her station, or her husband had died early; but certainly her sons, thinking more of her than of their father, had soon thrown in their lot with David her brother (but see note on ver. 32). The youngest of the three, Asahel, was remarkable for his personal accomplishments, and especially for swiftness of foot, for which he was compared to the Zebi, the camp name of Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:19). It now caused his death. For conscious that Abner was the sole support of Ishbosheth's party, and indignant at his challenge to useless slaughter, he pursued after him, allowing nothing to divert him from his object, and hoping to end the war by slaying the veteran commander. But though he had the fleetness of an Achilles, he had not his robust strength, and Abner, knowing that the combat was unequal, remonstrated with him, and bade him turn aside, and be content with winning the spoils of some meaner warrior. It is evident from this that Abner saw in this defeat in a battle of his own choosing, the certainty of the near downfall of the house of Saul, and, as he would then be in Joab's power, he was unwilling to have a blood feud with a man of such determined character. "How," he asks, "should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?" It would be his duty, as the avenger of blood, to slay me. Apparently, during this conference, he was standing with the butt end of his lance held towards Asahel, to ward off his blows, but, as the spearhead was turned the other way, Asahel forgot that even so it might be used for offence. For it was pointed, that it might be stuck in the ground at night (1 Samuel 26:7), and possibly shod with iron, though it is more likely that it was only hardened by being thrust into the fire. So when he saw that his words had no avail, and that Asahel was not on his guard, he suddenly struck him with it so violent a blow that it pierced his body right through, and Asahel fell down dead. It is probable, from the merciless force used, that there was a sudden outburst of anger on Abner's part. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew and heעֲשָׂהאֵ֖ל (‘ă·śā·h·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 6214: Asahel -- 'God has made', four Israelites chased וַיִּרְדֹּ֥ף (way·yir·dōp̄) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7291: To pursue, chase, persecute Abner, אַבְנֵ֑ר (’aḇ·nêr) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 74: Abner -- 'my father is a lamp', an Israelite name not וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no turning נָטָ֣ה (nā·ṭāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5186: To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend to the right הַיָּמִין֙ (hay·yā·mîn) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 3225: The right hand, side, the south or to the left הַשְּׂמֹ֔אול (haś·śə·mō·wl) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 8040: Dark, the north, the left hand in his pursuit. אַבְנֵֽר׃ (’aḇ·nêr) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 74: Abner -- 'my father is a lamp', an Israelite name Links 2 Samuel 2:19 NIV2 Samuel 2:19 NLT 2 Samuel 2:19 ESV 2 Samuel 2:19 NASB 2 Samuel 2:19 KJV 2 Samuel 2:19 BibleApps.com 2 Samuel 2:19 Biblia Paralela 2 Samuel 2:19 Chinese Bible 2 Samuel 2:19 French Bible 2 Samuel 2:19 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Samuel 2:19 Asahel pursued after Abner (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam) |
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