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 grabbed his opponent by the hair and thrust his sword into the other’s side so that all of them died. So this place at Gibeon has been known ever since as the Field of Swords. 17A fierce battle followed that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the forces of David. Joab, Abishai, and Asahel—the three sons of Zeruiah—were among David’s forces that day. Asahel could run like a gazelle, 19and he began chasing Abner. He pursued him relentlessly, not stopping for anything. 20When Abner looked back and saw him coming, he called out, “Is that you, Asahel?” “Yes, it is,” he replied.

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 2:15his sixth was Ozem, and his seventh was David.
• 1 Chronicles 11:26David’s mighty warriors also included: Asahel, Joab’s brother; Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;
• 2 Samuel 1:23How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan! They were together in life and in death. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
• 1 Chronicles 12:8Some brave and experienced warriors from the tribe of Gad also defected to David while he was at the stronghold in the wilderness. They were expert with both shield and spear, as fierce as lions and as swift as deer on the mountains.
• Psalms 147:10He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might.
• Ecclesiastes 9:11I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.
• Amos 2:14Your fastest runners will not get away. The strongest among you will become weak. Even mighty warriors will be unable to save themselves.
• Psalms 18:33He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
• Habakkuk 3:19The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. (For the choir director: This prayer is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)
• 2 Samuel 15:22David replied, “All right, come with us.” So Ittai and all his men and their families went along.

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