2 Samuel 2:21 kjv
And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armor. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.
2 Samuel 2:21 nkjv
And Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one of the young men and take his armor for yourself." But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.
2 Samuel 2:21 niv
Then Abner said to him, "Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons." But Asahel would not stop chasing him.
2 Samuel 2:21 esv
Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and seize one of the young men and take his spoil." But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.
2 Samuel 2:21 nlt
"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.
2 Samuel 2 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Warning Ignored | ||
| Prov 1:24-25 | Because I have called, and ye refused... ye have set at nought all my counsel | Folly of ignoring wisdom's warning |
| Prov 29:1 | He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed | Peril of obstinate rejection of warnings |
| Jer 7:23-24 | But they hearkened not... turned a stubborn neck | Israel's persistent refusal to listen to God |
| Consequences of Unchecked Pursuit/Pride | ||
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall | Asahel's unyielding pursuit leads to his demise |
| Prov 28:25 | He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife | Asahel's pride fueling the pursuit |
| Dan 5:20 | but when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened... | Consequences of a hardened and proud spirit |
| Blood Feud / Vengeance | ||
| Num 35:19 | The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer | Law of the avenger of blood |
| Deut 19:6 | Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot | Context for the 'avenger of blood' |
| Gen 9:5-6 | And surely your blood... will I require... at the hand of every man's brother | Sanctity of human life and accountability for bloodshed |
| Rom 12:19 | Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath | Command against personal vengeance |
| Heb 10:30 | Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord | God as the ultimate avenger |
| Brotherhood / Family Strife | ||
| Gen 4:8 | Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him | The tragic beginning of sibling murder |
| 2 Sam 3:27 | For Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner... because he had slain Asahel | Fulfillment of the blood feud, Joab avenging Asahel |
| 2 Sam 20:10 | Joab... took Amasa by the beard... and smote him... that he died | Joab's pattern of assassination against kin/rivals |
| Matt 10:21 | And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death | Prophecy of family division for Christ's sake |
| Shame / Loss of Face | ||
| Ezra 9:6-7 | O my God, I am ashamed... our kings... have been delivered... to confusion | National shame due to sin and humiliation |
| Psa 44:15 | All the day long my confusion is before me; And the shame of my face hath covered me | Personal and national shame expressed |
| Jer 3:3 | Yet thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed | Description of one without shame |
| Isa 50:7 | For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded | Messiah's resolve not to be put to shame |
| Wisdom vs. Folly | ||
| Prov 12:15 | The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise | Asahel's refusal to heed Abner's counsel |
| Prov 13:10 | Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom | Connection between pride, strife, and wisdom |
| Prov 16:3 | Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established | Divine guidance for actions and intentions |
2 Samuel 2 verses
2 Samuel 2 21 Meaning
2 Samuel 2:21 portrays Abner's final, desperate warning to Asahel during the intense pursuit after the Battle of Gibeon. Abner, a seasoned general, sought to avoid killing Asahel, fearing the inevitable blood feud with Joab, Asahel's influential brother and David's commander. He urged Asahel to divert his pursuit to a less significant foe to prevent an act that would bring deep personal shame and complicate reconciliation efforts between the warring factions of Israel.
2 Samuel 2 21 Context
This verse occurs during a pivotal moment in the civil war following Saul's death, where Ish-Bosheth (Saul's son) rules Israel through Abner, and David rules Judah. A confrontation occurs at the Pool of Gibeon (2 Sam 2:13), initially a skirmish, escalating into full-scale battle. Abner's forces are routed, and a panicked retreat ensues. Asahel, Joab's younger brother, renowned for his speed, fixates on pursuing Abner personally (2 Sam 2:18-20). Abner, while fleeing, repeatedly warns Asahel, seeking to avoid a direct confrontation that would force him to kill one of David's mighty men and incite a profound personal blood feud with Joab. This specific verse (21) is Abner's penultimate warning, clearly stating his reluctance and the serious consequence of killing him – a shame so great it would prevent him from facing Joab, indicating the deep cultural significance of honour and the danger of escalating the conflict to personal vendettas.
2 Samuel 2 21 Word analysis
- And Abner said again to Asahel: The repetition of "said again" (Hebrew: vayyosef) highlights Abner's earnestness and his repeated attempts to avert tragedy. This was not a casual warning but a pleading.
- Turn thee aside from me: (Hebrew: sūrāh me’ālāy - "turn away from upon me"). This command shows Abner's desire for disengagement. He urges Asahel to divert his singular focus and obsession. The Hebrew sūrāh suggests a strong imperative to depart or deviate.
- lest I smite thee to the ground: (Hebrew: pen akkekka’ ’arṣāh - "lest I strike you to the earth/ground"). "Smite" (nākāh) often implies a decisive, often fatal, blow in battle. Abner is warning that he will be forced to kill Asahel if he continues. "To the ground" signifies rendering one utterly defeated, dead, or helpless.
- how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?: (Hebrew: w’êḵ ’esśā’ fānay ’el-Yô’āv ’āḥîḵā? - "and how will I lift my face to Joab your brother?"). This is the crux of Abner's motivation.
- "Hold up my face" (nāśā’ fānîm): A powerful idiomatic expression signifying honour, respect, boldness, and the ability to confront another with a clear conscience. Not being able to "lift one's face" implies deep shame, humiliation, guilt, and the loss of dignity, especially before the offended party. Abner foresees that killing Joab's brother would render him unable to meet Joab as an equal, a respected adversary, or even a future peace negotiator, severely hindering any potential for reconciliation or dignified engagement. It highlights the strong tribal and family loyalties in ancient Israel, where an offense against one family member was an offense against the whole clan.
- "to Joab thy brother": Emphasizes the personal and familial bond that would make this killing particularly heinous in Abner's eyes. Joab was not just a general but the brother of the one being pursued. This highlights Abner's strategic thinking—knowing the severe blood feud that would inevitably follow.
2 Samuel 2 21 Bonus section
- The lex talionis (law of retaliation, 'eye for an eye') principle and the designated 'cities of refuge' in Israel (Num 35:9-34) underscored the gravity of taking human life, especially through vengeance. While Abner's killing of Asahel might be considered in self-defense, the culture of blood revenge made Joab's retaliatory action against Abner (2 Sam 3:27) almost inevitable and understood, if not legally justified outside of specific parameters.
- Asahel's exceptional speed, while a physical gift (2 Sam 2:18), became his undoing. It underscores a spiritual truth: natural gifts or strengths, if not governed by wisdom, humility, or counsel, can lead to one's downfall. His unyielding focus on one opponent reflects a tunnel vision that rejected caution and consideration.
- Abner's plea suggests a remnant of honour, perhaps even a weariness with the civil conflict, where he tried to avoid unnecessary escalation, which contrasts sharply with Joab's later willingness to assassinate for vengeance.
2 Samuel 2 21 Commentary
2 Samuel 2:21 encapsulates Abner's internal struggle and pragmatic understanding of the grim realities of tribal conflict. He does not desire to kill Asahel, not out of weakness, but because he perceives the far-reaching, detrimental consequences. His concern about "holding up his face" to Joab speaks volumes about the ancient world's concept of honor and the personal nature of leadership and conflict. It wasn't merely a strategic issue but a matter of deep-seated shame and the profound implications for future interaction and peace efforts. Abner understood that such a direct personal blow against David's closest general would make any future reconciliation between the houses of Saul and David immeasurably difficult, turning a general conflict into an enduring, bitter personal vendetta. Asahel's continued, relentless, and foolish pursuit, despite clear warning, highlights the danger of single-minded determination driven by pride rather than wisdom, leading directly to his tragic and avoidable end.