2 Samuel 2:18-28

18Now 1the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel; and Asahel was 2as 3swift-footed as one of the gazelles that is in the field. 19Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn 4to the right or to the left from following Abner. 20Then Abner looked behind himself and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” And he said, “It is I!” 21So Abner said to him, “Turn aside for your own good to your right or to your left, and take hold of one of the young men for yourself, and take for yourself his equipment.” But Asahel was unwilling to turn aside from following him. 22Then Abner repeated again to Asahel, “Turn aside for your own good from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? 5How then could I 6show my face to your brother Joab?” 23However, he refused to turn aside; so Abner struck him in the belly with the butt end of the spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died on the spot. And it happened that all who came thereafter to the place where 7Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.

24But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and when the sun was going down, they came to the hill of Ammah, which is opposite Giah by way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 25And the sons of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one troop, and they stood on the top of a hill. 26Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Should the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that it will be bitter in the end? So how long will you 8refrain from telling the people to turn back from pursuing their kinsmen?” 27Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, then the people of Judah certainly would have withdrawn in the morning, each from pursuing his brother.” 28So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the people halted and no longer pursued Israel, 9nor did they continue to fight anymore.