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

16Then each grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they all fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. 17The battle was very fierce that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated before David’s servants. Now the three sons of Zeruiah were Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Asahel was as swift-footed as one of the gazelles of the field. 19Asahel pursued Abner, not swerving to the right or to the left from pursuing Abner. 20Then Abner looked behind him and asked, “Is it you, Asahel?” “It is I,” he answered.

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 2:15Ozem sixth, and David seventh.
• 1 Chronicles 11:26The mighty men were: Asael Joab’s brother, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
• 2 Samuel 1:23Saul and Jonathan, loved and delightful, parted neither in life nor death. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
• 1 Chronicles 12:8Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
• Psalms 147:10He delights not in the horse’s strength, nor takes pleasure in a man’s legs.
• Ecclesiastes 9:11I further observed under the sun: The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the mighty, nor does bread come to the wise, or wealth to the discerning, or favor to the skillful; for time and chance befall them all.
• Amos 2:14Then flight will fail for the swift. The mighty will not strengthen his power, The warrior will not save his life.
• Psalms 18:33God girds me with strength and makes my way straight.
• Habakkuk 3:19Adonai my Lord, is my strength. He has made my feet like a deer’s, and will make me walk on my high places. For the choir director: On my stringed instruments.
• 2 Samuel 15:22So David said to Ittai, “Go on and cross over.” So Ittai the Gittite passed on, with all his men and all the little children who were with him.

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