2 Samuel 2:22

2 Samuel 2:22 in other versions

• King James Version (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?
• New International Version (NIV)Again Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?”
• English Standard Version (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?"
• New King James Version (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?”

Context of 2 Samuel 2:22

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. 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?” 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 Asahel 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.

2 Samuel 2:22 word by word

וַיֹּ֧סֶף ע֣וֹד אַבְנֵ֗ר לֵאמֹר֙ אֶל־עֲשָׂהאֵ֔ל ס֥וּר לְךָ֖ מֵאַֽחֲרָ֑י לָ֤מָּה אַכֶּ֙כָּה֙ אַ֔רְצָה וְאֵיךְ֙ אֶשָּׂ֣א פָנַ֔י אֶל־יוֹאָ֖ב אָחִֽיךָ׃Read the interlinear

• Then Abnerאֲבִינֵר'abnêr 'ăbîynêr · AbnerH74
• repeatedיָסַףyâsaph · to add: againH3254
• repeatedאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• againעוֹד‛ôd ‛ôd · stillH5750
• to Asahelעֲשָׂהאֵל‛ăώâh'êl · AsahelH6214
• Turnסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: turn asideH5493
• asideסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: turn asideH5493
• from followingאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• me. Whyמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• should I strikeנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• you to the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
• Howאֵיךְ'êyk 'êykâh 'êykâkâh · how?H349
• showנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: kindnessH5375
• my faceפָּנֶהpânîym · face: kindnessH6440
• to your brotherאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
• Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 2:22

• 2 Kings 14:10You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart is elated. Enjoy the glory and stay home; for why should you get involved in trouble so that you would fall, you and Judah with you?”
• Proverbs 29:1A person often rebuked who becomes obstinate Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.
• Ecclesiastes 6:10Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with the one who is mightier than he is.
• 2 Samuel 3:27So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the belly, so that he died on account of the blood of his brother Asahel.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 2:22

• 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. 20-22Turn to your right or to your left … Stop chasing me: Abner’s words show respect between men trained for the same kind of military work, along with a desire for fairness in battle. Asahel, who was still young, would not have been able to defeat the more experienced Abner. Abner also understood that killing Asahel would worsen the conflict with David, and David’s troops would try to take revenge (see 2 Samuel 3:22–39).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-3219-32. Asahel pursued after Abner--To gain the general's armor was deemed the grandest trophy. Asahel, ambitious of securing Abner's, had outstripped all other pursuers, and was fast gaining on the retreating commander. Abner, conscious of possessing more physical power, and unwilling that there should be "blood" between himself and Joab, Asahel's brother, twice urged him to desist. The impetuous young soldier being deaf to the generous remonstrance, the…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 2:22

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

In the dictionaries

• Abner
• Joab
• Cord
• Follow
• Ishbosheth
• Requite
• Government
• Judah, Kingdom of
• Samuel, Books of
• Text of the Old Testament

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