2 Samuel 2 20

2 Samuel 2:20 kjv

Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.

2 Samuel 2:20 nkjv

Then Abner looked behind him and said, "Are you Asahel?" He answered, "I am."

2 Samuel 2:20 niv

Abner looked behind him and asked, "Is that you, Asahel?" "It is," he answered.

2 Samuel 2:20 esv

Then Abner looked behind him and said, "Is it you, Asahel?" And he answered, "It is I."

2 Samuel 2:20 nlt

When Abner looked back and saw him coming, he called out, "Is that you, Asahel?" "Yes, it is," he replied.

2 Samuel 2 verses

2 Samuel 2 20 Meaning

2 Samuel 2:20 captures a pivotal exchange during a battle between the forces of David and those loyal to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son. In this verse, Abner, the commander of Ish-bosheth's army, confronts Asahel, the incredibly swift brother of Joab and Abishai, who is relentlessly pursuing him. Abner, recognizing Asahel despite his turning away, directly asks him for his identity. Asahel, with resolute brevity, confirms it. This terse dialogue underscores Asahel's unwavering determination to pursue Abner, sealing his tragic fate despite Abner's earlier attempts to warn him off and avoid a personal blood feud.

2 Samuel 2 20 Context

This verse is set amidst the ongoing civil war in Israel following King Saul's death. David has been anointed king over Judah in Hebron (2 Sam 2:4), while Abner, Saul's army commander, has made Saul's son Ish-bosheth king over the rest of Israel (2 Sam 2:8-10). The immediate context is a strategic confrontation at the Pool of Gibeon (2 Sam 2:13-17) which escalates into full-blown battle. During this rout of Ish-bosheth's forces, Asahel, known for his extraordinary speed (2 Sam 2:18), singled out Abner for pursuit. Abner, an experienced warrior and leader, tried thrice to dissuade Asahel from this dangerous chase, warning him to turn aside and assuring him he would rather fight another of Asahel's men and allow him to take their armor as spoil (2 Sam 2:21). This verse marks the crucial moment when Abner directly confirms his pursuer's identity, making a final, clear attempt to acknowledge Asahel's resolve before having to take the fateful action that leads to a protracted blood feud. Abner understood the serious implications of killing Joab's brother.

2 Samuel 2 20 Word analysis

• Then Abner looked behind him:

  • וַיִּפֶן (va·yif·en): From the Hebrew verb פָּנָה (panah), meaning "to turn," "to face." This implies a deliberate and directed turn, not a casual glance. Abner specifically looked for Asahel, indicating his awareness of Asahel's relentless pursuit. It conveys a sense of direct engagement rather than passive observation.
  • אַבְנֵר (Av·ner): Abner, meaning "My Father is a Light," was Saul's cousin and commander of his army. His character throughout this narrative shows a blend of cunning, strategic prowess, and a desire to avoid unnecessary personal vendettas, especially one as explosive as with Joab's family.
  • אַחֲרָיו (akh·arav): "Behind him." Abner is in retreat or attempting to disengage from Asahel, so the action of looking "behind him" suggests his assessment of the continuing threat and the identity of his unwavering pursuer.

• and said, 'Are you Asahel?':

  • וַיֹּאמֶר (va·yo·mer): "And he said," indicating a direct vocal communication, emphasizing the intentionality of the query.
  • הַאַתָּה (ha·at·tah): This combines the interrogative particle הַ (ha), meaning "is it?" or "are you?" with אַתָּה (at·tah), the masculine singular pronoun "you." It forms a pointed and unambiguous question. Abner asks this despite knowing who it is, perhaps to elicit a confirmation from Asahel himself, putting the burden of the next step on Asahel's choice. It could also be a final attempt to break through Asahel's zealous pursuit by appealing to his sense of reason and acknowledging the serious implications.
  • עֲשָׂהאֵל (Asah·el): Asahel, meaning "God has made" or "God acts/works." His name contrasts ironically with his swift, impulsive pursuit unto death. His zealous personal pursuit aligns with human impetuousness rather than divine purpose, ultimately leading to his demise.

• And he answered, 'I am.':

  • וַיֹּאמֶר (va·yo·mer): "And he said," mirroring Abner's verbal action, indicating the response was immediate and direct.
  • אָנֹכִי (a·no·chi): "I am." This is a strong, emphatic first-person singular pronoun. Unlike the more common "Ani" (אֲנִי), "Anokhi" often conveys a greater sense of formality, self-affirmation, or even defiance. In this context, it is a terse, unequivocal confirmation of identity and, by implication, a re-affirmation of his unyielding commitment to the pursuit, despite Abner's prior warnings. There is no hesitancy, no qualification; only unwavering resolve, signaling that Abner's attempt to deter him had failed.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Then Abner looked behind him and said": This sequence reveals Abner's strategic mindset. He isn't reacting blindly; he's observing, identifying, and then verbally engaging. This preparation precedes a desperate, last-ditch attempt to avoid an unpalatable course of action. It underscores his tactical acumen even under duress.
  • "'Are you Asahel?' And he answered, 'I am.'": This two-part exchange is swift, direct, and freighted with meaning. Abner's question, though seemingly confirming identity, carries the weight of a final plea for Asahel to reconsider his dangerous chase, appealing to the recognition between warriors. Asahel's response, "I am," is a powerful declaration of his unyielding resolve and, implicitly, his refusal to be deterred by warnings or the reputation of his opponent. This stark affirmation directly leads to the next fatal event.

2 Samuel 2 20 Bonus section

The exchange in 2 Sam 2:20 serves as a powerful illustration of the ancient Near Eastern custom of the "goel haddam" or "avenger of blood." Abner, in his preceding pleas to Asahel, recognizes the custom: if he kills Asahel, he will become an object of Joab's (and Abishai's) blood vengeance. By directly asking Asahel for confirmation, Abner creates a moment where he tries to establish Asahel's conscious choice to continue the pursuit, thus shifting some moral weight for the impending, unavoidable confrontation. This doesn't absolve Abner but demonstrates his awareness of the custom and his attempt to mitigate future accusations. The short, emphatic "I am" from Asahel underlines his unwillingness to yield, accepting the risk perhaps without fully grasping the cultural depth of the vengeance he was about to unleash upon Abner and his house. The swiftness of Asahel is highlighted throughout, but this verse focuses on his character and fatal resolve.

2 Samuel 2 20 Commentary

2 Samuel 2:20 provides a raw, concise moment of direct confrontation during the chaos of battle. It showcases Abner's strategic calculation and his reluctant efforts to prevent further, deeper conflict with David's powerful clan, epitomized by Joab. By stopping to address Asahel directly and verbally confirm his identity, Abner makes a final, earnest attempt to divert the course of events. His three earlier warnings to Asahel (not included in this specific verse but immediately preceding it in 2 Sam 2:21) had clearly failed. Asahel's curt, unwavering response, "I am," speaks volumes of his youthful impulsiveness, ambition for glory, or perhaps a rigid sense of honor that prevented him from turning aside, even from an experienced general trying to save his life.

This brief dialogue seals Asahel's doom. Abner, in confirming the identity of his tenacious pursuer, effectively establishes a verbal boundary that Asahel wilfully crosses. The ensuing action, the killing of Asahel, directly ignites the bitter blood feud between David's and Saul's houses, profoundly impacting the remainder of the narrative, especially through Joab's later vengeful actions against Abner. The verse highlights the tragic consequences of stubbornness and failure to heed wise counsel, even when offered by an enemy, demonstrating how personal choices can profoundly shape national and familial destinies within the broader biblical narrative of God's sovereign plan.