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

20When Abner looked back and saw him coming, he called out, “Is that you, Asahel?” “Yes, it is,” he replied. 21“Go fight someone else!” Abner warned. “Take on one of the younger men, and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel kept right on chasing Abner. Again Abner shouted to him, “Get away from here! I don’t want to kill you. How could I ever face your brother Joab again?” 23But Asahel refused to turn back, so Abner thrust the butt end of his spear through Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He stumbled to the ground and died there. And everyone who came by that spot stopped and stood still when they saw Asahel lying there. 24When Joab and Abishai found out what had happened, they set out after Abner. The sun was just going down as they arrived at the hill of Ammah near Giah, along the road to 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Abnerאֲבִינֵר'abnêr 'ăbîynêr · AbnerH74
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• againיָסַףyâsaph · to add: againH3254
• to Asahelעֲשָׂהאֵל‛ăώâh'êl · AsahelH6214
• Turn thee asideסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: turn asideH5493
• from followingאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• me: wherefore should I smiteנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• thee to the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
• how then should I hold upנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: kindnessH5375
• my faceפָּנֶהpânîym · face: kindnessH6440
• to Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
• thy brotherאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 2:22

• 2 Kings 14:10“You have indeed defeated Edom, and you are proud of it. But be content with your victory and stay at home! Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?”
• Proverbs 29:1Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.
• Ecclesiastes 6:10Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny.
• 2 Samuel 3:27When Abner arrived back at Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gateway as if to speak with him privately. But then he stabbed Abner in the stomach and killed him in revenge for killing 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