2 Samuel 2:12-29

12One day AbnerH74 sonH1121 of NerH5369 and the servantsH5650 of Ish-boshethH378 sonH1121 of SaulH7586 marched outH3318 from MahanaimH4266 to GibeonH1391. 13So JoabH3097 sonH1121 of ZeruiahH6870 and the servantsH5650 of DavidH1732 marched outH3318 and met themH6298 byH5921 the poolH1295 of GibeonH1391H3162. And the two groupsH428 took up positionsH3427 onH5921 opposite sidesH2088H428H5921H1295 of the poolH1295.

14Then AbnerH74 saidH559 toH413 JoabH3097, “Let us have the young menH5288 get upH6965H4994 and competeH7832 before usH6440.”

“Let them get upH6965,” JoabH3097 repliedH559.

15So they got upH6965H5674 and were counted offH4557—twelveH8147H6240 for BenjaminH1144 and Ish-boshethH378 sonH1121 of SaulH7586, and twelveH8147H6240 for DavidH1732. 16Then each manH376 grabbedH2388 his opponentH7453 by the headH7218 and thrust his swordH2719 into his opponent’sH7453 sideH6654, and they all fellH5307 togetherH3162. So thisH1931 placeH4725, whichH834 is in GibeonH1391, is calledH7121 Helkath-hazzurimH2521.1

17The battleH4421 thatH1931 dayH3117 wasH1961 intenseH3966H7186, and AbnerH74 and the menH582 of IsraelH3478 were defeatedH5062 byH6440 the servantsH5650 of DavidH1732.

18The threeH7969 sonsH1121 of ZeruiahH6870 wereH1961 thereH8033: JoabH3097, AbishaiH52, and AsahelH6214. Now AsahelH6214 was fleetH7031 of footH7272 like aH259 wildH7704 gazelleH6643, 19and heH6214H310 chasedH7291 AbnerH74, notH3808 turningH5186H1980H5921 to the rightH3225H5921 or to the leftH8040H310 in his pursuitH74. 20And AbnerH74 glancedH6437 backH310 and saidH559, “Is thatH2088 youH859, AsahelH6214?”

“It isH595,” Asahel repliedH559.

21So AbnerH74 toldH559 him, “TurnH5186 to yourH5921 rightH3225 orH176 toH5921 your leftH8040, seizeH270 oneH259 of the young menH5288, and takeH3947 his equipmentH2488 for yourself.”

But AsahelH6214 wouldH14 notH3808 stopH5493 chasing himH310.

22Once againH3254H5750, AbnerH74 warnedH559H413 AsahelH6214, “StopH5493 chasing meH310. WhyH4100 should I strikeH5221 you to the groundH776? HowH349 could I showH5375 my faceH6440 toH413 your brotherH251 JoabH3097?”

23But Asahel refusedH3985 to turn awayH5493. So AbnerH74 thrustH5221 the buttH310 of his spearH2595 intoH413 his stomachH2570, andH2595 it came outH3318 his backH310, and he fellH5307 deadH4191H8478H1961 on the spotH8033. And every manH3605 pausedH5975 when he cameH935 toH413 the placeH4725 whereH834 AsahelH6214 had fallenH5307H8033 and diedH4191. 24But JoabH3097 and AbishaiH52H310 pursuedH7291 AbnerH74. By sunsetH8121H935, theyH1992 had goneH935 asH5704 far as the hillH1389 of AmmahH522 oppositeH5921H6440 GiahH1520 on the wayH1870 to the wildernessH4057 of GibeonH1391.

25The BenjamitesH1121H1144H310 ralliedH6908 to AbnerH74, formedH1961 a singleH259 unitH92, and took their standH5975 atopH5921H7218 aH259 hillH1389. 26Then AbnerH74 called outH7121 toH413 JoabH3097: “Must the swordH2719 devour foreverH398H5331? Do you notH3808 realizeH3045 thatH3588 this will only endH314 in bitternessH4751H1961? How longH5704H4970H3808 before you tellH559 the troopsH5971 to stopH7725 pursuingH310 their brothersH251?”

27“As surely as GodH430 livesH2416,” JoabH3097 repliedH559, “if you had notH3588H3884 spoken upH1696H3588H227, the troopsH5971H376 would have continuedH5927 pursuingH310 their brothersH251 until morningH1242.”

28So JoabH3097 blewH8628 the ram’s hornH7782, and allH3605 the troopsH5971 stoppedH5975; they noH3808 longerH5750H310 pursuedH7291 IsraelH3478H3808 or continuedH3254H5750 to fightH3898. 29And allH3605 thatH1931 nightH3915 AbnerH74 and his menH582 marchedH1980 through the ArabahH6160. They crossedH5674 the JordanH3383, marchedH1980 allH3605 morningH1338,2 and arrivedH935 at MahanaimH4266.