2 Samuel 2:18

2 Samuel 2:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
• New International Version (NIV)The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as swift of foot as a wild gazelle.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was as fleet of foot as a wild gazelle.

Context of 2 Samuel 2:18

16Each one of them seized his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponents side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim [that is, the Field of Sides], which is in Gibeon. 17There was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David. Three sons of Zeruiah [the half sister of David] were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as light and swift-footed as one of the [wild] gazelles in the field. 19Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn to the right or to the left as he followed him. 20Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” He answered, “It is I.”

2 Samuel 2:18 word by word

וַיִּֽהְיוּ־שָׁ֗ם שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ בְּנֵ֣י צְרוּיָ֔ה יוֹאָ֥ב וַאֲבִישַׁ֖י וַעֲשָׂהאֵ֑ל וַעֲשָׂהאֵל֙ קַ֣ל בְּרַגְלָ֔יו כְּאַחַ֥ד הַצְּבָיִ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּשָּׂדֶֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And there were threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
• sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Zeruiahצְרוּיָהtserûyâh · ZeruiahH6870
• there, Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
• and Abishaiאֲבִישַׁי'ăbîyshay 'abshay · AbishaiH52
• and Asahelעֲשָׂהאֵל‛ăώâh'êl · AsahelH6214
• lightקַלqal · swiftH7031
• of footרֶ֫גֶלregel · footH7272
• as aאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• wildשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: wildlifeH7704
• roeצְבִיtsebîy · gazelleH6643

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 2:18

• 1 Chronicles 2:15Ozem the sixth, David the seventh.
• 1 Chronicles 11:26Now the mighty men of the armies were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
• 2 Samuel 1:23Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely and friends in their lives, And in their death they were not separated; They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions.
• 1 Chronicles 12:8Courageous men from the Gadites came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were swift as gazelles on the mountains.
• Psalms 147:10He does not delight in the strength (military power) of the horse, Nor does He take pleasure in the legs (strength) of a man.
• Ecclesiastes 9:11I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the strong, and neither is bread to the wise nor riches to those of intelligence and understanding nor favor to men of ability; but time and chance overtake them all.
• Amos 2:14Flight will be lost to the swift [so they will be unable to escape], And the strong shall not strengthen nor maintain his power, Nor shall the mighty man save his own life.
• Psalms 18:33He makes my feet like hinds’ feet [able to stand firmly and tread safely on paths of testing and trouble]; He sets me [securely] upon my high places.
• Habakkuk 3:19The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army]; He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet And makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my high places [of challenge and responsibility]. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.
• 2 Samuel 15:22So David said to Ittai, “Go on and cross over [the Brook Kidron].” So Ittai the Gittite crossed over with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 2:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe - To be swift of foot was deemed a great accomplishment in the heroes of antiquity; , the swift-footed Achilles, is an epithet which Homer gives to that hero no less than thirty times in the course of the Ilias. It has a qualification also among the Roman soldiers; they were taught both to run swiftly, and to swim well.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-24Verses 18-24 Death often comes by ways we least suspect. We are often betrayed by the accomplishments we are proud of! Asahel's swiftness, which he presumed so much upon, did him no service, but hastened his end.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18Zeruiah was David’s sister (1 Chronicles 2:15–16). So, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were his nephews.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 2:18

• Abner
• Asahel
• David
• Deer
• Homicide
• Israel
• Joab
• War
• Zeruiah

In the dictionaries

• Joab
• Abishai
• Abner
• Asahel
• Cord
• Follow
• Ishbosheth
• Requite
• Roe
• Deer

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings