Tree of Life Version
2 Samuel 2:23
23But he refused to turn aside, so Abner struck him with the butt end of the spear in the groin, so that the spear came out through his back, and he fell down there and died on the spot. When all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, they stood still.
2 Samuel 2:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
- New International Version (NIV)But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the butt of his spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died where he was. And all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.
- New King James Version (NKJV)However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the blunt end of the spear, so that the spear came out of his back; and he fell down there and died on the spot. So it was that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still.
Context of 2 Samuel 2:23
21So Abner said to him, “Turn away to your right or to your left, seize one of the young men and take his armor for yourself.” But Asahel would not turn away from following him. 22Once again Abner warned Asahel, “Turn away from pursuing me! Why should I strike you to the ground? How would I ever look your brother Joab in the face?” But he refused to turn aside, so Abner struck him with the butt end of the spear in the groin, so that the spear came out through his back, and he fell down there and died on the spot. When all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, they stood still. 24But Joab and Abishai continued pursuing Abner. As the sun was setting, they reached the hill of Ammah, which faces Giah on the road to the wilderness of Gibeon. 25Then the sons of Benjamin rallied to Abner and became one group, taking their stand on top of one of the hills.
Read all of 2 Samuel 22 Samuel 2:23 word by word
וַיְמָאֵ֣ן לָס֗וּר וַיַּכֵּ֣הוּ אַבְנֵר֩ בְּאַחֲרֵ֨י הַחֲנִ֜ית אֶל־הַחֹ֗מֶשׁ וַתֵּצֵ֤א הַֽחֲנִית֙ מֵאַחֲרָ֔יו וַיִּפָּל־שָׁ֖ם וַיָּ֣מָת תַּחְתָּ֑יו וַיְהִ֡י כָּל־הַבָּ֣א אֶֽל־הַמָּקוֹם֩ אֲשֶׁר־נָ֨פַל שָׁ֧ם עֲשָׂהאֵ֛ל וַיָּמֹ֖ת וַֽיַּעֲמֹֽדוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Howbeit he refusedמָאֵןmâ'ên · to refuseH3985
- to turn asideסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: turn asideH5493
- wherefore Abnerאֲבִינֵר'abnêr 'ăbîynêr · AbnerH74
- with the hinder endאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- of the spearחֲנִיתchănîyth · spearH2595
- smoteנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
- him underאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
- the fifthחֹ֫מֶשׁchômesh · bellyH2570
- came outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
- him; and he fell downנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
- there, and diedמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- in the same placeתַּחַתtachath · underneath: standH8478
- as many as cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- to the placeמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725
- where Asahelעֲשָׂהאֵל‛ăώâh'êl · AsahelH6214
- stood stillעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 2:23
- 2 Samuel 3:27Now when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside within the gate to speak with him privately, and there stabbed him in the groin, so that he died—on account of the blood of his brother Asahel.
- 2 Samuel 4:6When they came within the house, as though to get wheat, they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped.
- 2 Samuel 5:6Now the king and his soldiers marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the region. But they said to David, “You’ll never get in here! Even the blind and the lame could ward you off,” thinking, “David can’t get in here.”
- 2 Samuel 20:10But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s other hand. So he stabbed him with it in the groin and poured out his entrails to the ground, and did not strike him again, for he died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.
- 2 Samuel 20:12Yet Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the midst of the highway. So when the man saw that all the people stood still, he dragged Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him because he saw that everyone passing by him paused.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 2:23
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23With the hinder end - i. e. the wooden end, which was more or less pointed to enable the owner to stick it in the ground 1 Samuel 26:7. The fifth rib - The word so rendered here (and in marginal references) means the abdomen, and is not etymologically connected with the Hebrew for five, as the translation “fifth rib” supposes, but with a verb meaning to be fat, or strong.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. 12-32A long civil war followed between Judah, led by David, and the northern tribes, led by Saul’s family. These events led directly to the murder of Abner (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 2:23
In the dictionaries
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
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