2 Samuel 2 19

2 Samuel 2:19 kjv

And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

2 Samuel 2:19 nkjv

So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.

2 Samuel 2:19 niv

He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him.

2 Samuel 2:19 esv

And Asahel pursued Abner, and as he went, he turned neither to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

2 Samuel 2:19 nlt

and he began chasing Abner. He pursued him relentlessly, not stopping for anything.

2 Samuel 2 verses

2 Samuel 2 19 Meaning

2 Samuel 2:19 describes Asahel's determined pursuit of Abner during the battle at Gibeon. The verse highlights his single-minded focus on his target, Abner, indicating that he did not deviate from his chase "to the right hand or to the left." This unwavering and perhaps reckless determination ultimately set the stage for the tragic events that followed, including Asahel's death and the ensuing cycle of vengeance.

2 Samuel 2 19 Context

This verse occurs during the civil war between the house of David (represented by Joab's forces) and the house of Saul (represented by Abner's forces) after Saul's death. The initial "game" between twelve men from each side escalated into a full-scale battle. Asahel, Joab's brother, was renowned for his exceptional speed (2 Sam 2:18). Abner, Saul's seasoned general, identified Asahel's dangerous pursuit and tried to divert him, knowing the serious implications of killing Joab's brother (2 Sam 2:20-21). Asahel's single-minded refusal to turn, as described in this verse, sets the stage for his direct confrontation and death at Abner's hand. This event tragically fuels Joab's deep-seated vendetta against Abner, which eventually leads to Abner's assassination. The context highlights a volatile period of transition and the devastating personal consequences of a fractured kingdom.

2 Samuel 2 19 Word analysis

• And Asahel: Asahel (עֲשָׂהאֵל - ‘Asah’el, meaning "God has made" or "made by God") is specifically identified as swift-footed, compared to a gazelle (2 Sam 2:18). His individual strength lay in speed.
• pursued (וַיִּרְדֹּף - vayyirdof): From the root רָדַף (radaph), meaning to chase, pursue, follow hard after, persecute. It implies a relentless, intense, and active pursuit with the aim of overtaking or conquering. It's a strong verb, indicating a determined effort, not just casual following.
• Abner: A powerful and experienced commander of Saul's army. Asahel's pursuit of Abner suggests an attempt to achieve significant personal honor or victory by taking down a high-ranking foe.
• and in going he did not turn (וְהוּא לֹֽא־נָטָה - vehu lo-natah):
  • לא-נטה (lo-natah): "Did not turn aside" or "did not swerve." The verb נָטָה (natah) means to stretch out, incline, turn aside. Asahel's action, or lack thereof, highlights his unwavering focus.
• to the right hand or to the left (יָמִ֥ין וּשְׂמֹאול - yamin u-smol): This is a common Hebrew idiom denoting directness, unwavering commitment, or strict adherence to a path or command without deviation.
  • In other biblical contexts (e.g., Deut 5:32, Josh 1:7, Prov 4:27), it signifies obedience to God's law or a moral path. Here, it signifies Asahel's absolute fixation on his target in a physical sense, potentially to the exclusion of situational awareness or common sense warnings from Abner (2 Sam 2:20-21).
• from following Abner: This phrase reiterates that Abner was his sole objective. Asahel disregarded any other potential combatants or strategic advantages for this singular pursuit.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• Asahel pursued Abner: Establishes the key players and the initiating action. It portrays Asahel as the aggressor with a specific, high-value target, setting up a fateful personal confrontation rather than general battle.
• and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left: This vivid idiom underscores Asahel's tunnel vision and obstinacy. It describes his complete absorption in the chase, signifying both remarkable determination and, in this specific battle context, a dangerous lack of peripheral awareness, strategic wisdom, or willingness to heed counsel. His inability or refusal to deviate sealed his fate. It marks him as recklessly single-minded, setting a stark contrast with the wisdom often associated with not turning from the 'right path' (as in Deuteronomy and Joshua).
• from following Abner: This re-emphasizes the personal and relentless nature of Asahel's target, reinforcing his unwavering commitment to apprehending or killing Abner.

2 Samuel 2 19 Bonus section

Asahel's exceptional speed, noted just prior in 2 Samuel 2:18 ("as swift of foot as a wild gazelle"), informs his capacity for such an unswerving pursuit. Abner, a highly experienced and skilled general, was well aware of the deadly consequences should he harm one of Joab's brothers, which led to his direct warnings to Asahel (2 Sam 2:20-21). Asahel's determination to ignore these warnings despite their clarity signifies his fatal flaw—either overconfidence, pride in his speed, or a misguided desire for honor. This pivotal event deeply influenced the subsequent narrative, fueling the long-standing feud between Joab and Abner and illustrating the personal vendettas that complicate tribal conflicts and kingdom formation during this turbulent period of Israelite history. Asahel's death was not merely an casualty of war, but a foundational event for a deeper, personal cycle of revenge.

2 Samuel 2 19 Commentary

2 Samuel 2:19 concisely illustrates Asahel's single-minded pursuit, stemming from his notable speed and perhaps a desire for glory by defeating a prominent foe. His refusal to deviate "to the right hand or to the left" emphasizes his relentless focus, which, while sometimes commendable in a spiritual pursuit of God (as seen in later biblical teachings), proved tragically detrimental in this specific context of military encounter. Asahel ignored Abner's attempts to deter him, leading directly to his untimely death (2 Sam 2:21-23). This passage serves as a sobering example that zealous determination, unchecked by wisdom, discernment, or heeding counsel, can lead to severe personal consequences and instigate destructive cycles of vengeance within a community. His tragic pursuit also highlights the ancient battlefield dynamics of individual glory and the inherent dangers.