2 Samuel 2 24

2 Samuel 2:24 kjv

Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

2 Samuel 2:24 nkjv

Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner. And the sun was going down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah by the road to the Wilderness of Gibeon.

2 Samuel 2:24 niv

But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon.

2 Samuel 2:24 esv

But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. And as the sun was going down they came to the hill of Ammah, which lies before Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.

2 Samuel 2:24 nlt

When Joab and Abishai found out what had happened, they set out after Abner. The sun was just going down as they arrived at the hill of Ammah near Giah, along the road to the wilderness of Gibeon.

2 Samuel 2 verses

2 Samuel 2 24 Meaning

This verse describes the immediate and tragic culmination of Asahel's relentless pursuit of Abner during the battle between the forces of David and Ish-Bosheth. Despite Abner's repeated warnings and attempts to dissuade him, Asahel, driven by his exceptional speed and perhaps a desire for glory, refused to cease his pursuit. In self-defense, Abner struck Asahel with the blunt, butt end of his spear, a powerful and defensive blow that unexpectedly pierced Asahel and caused his instantaneous death. The severity of the blow and the suddenness of Asahel's demise were so impactful that all subsequent pursuers who reached the spot where Asahel lay dead stopped in their tracks, reflecting a profound moment of shock, respect, or contemplation amidst the ongoing conflict. This event is a pivotal point that intensifies the animosity between the two sides, particularly between Abner and Joab, setting the stage for future vengeance.

2 Samuel 2 24 Context

This verse occurs during the initial stages of the protracted civil war between the house of Saul, represented by his son Ish-Bosheth and commander Abner, and the house of David. The battle erupts after an ill-fated "challenge" where twelve men from each side engaged in fatal combat, leading to an all-out skirmish at the Pool of Gibeon. Joab, David's nephew and commander, leads David's forces, while Abner leads Ish-Bosheth's. Abner's men are decisively defeated and flee. Asahel, Joab's younger brother, renowned for his speed, relentlessly pursues Abner personally. Abner, not wanting to shed kinsman blood (especially considering Asahel was not a major combatant he sought out), repeatedly warns Asahel to turn aside and pursue someone of lesser stature, offering him the opportunity to strip a young soldier for their armor. However, Asahel, driven by youthful ambition or single-minded zeal, refuses to break off the pursuit. Verse 24 is the tragic climax of this individual chase, showing Asahel's insistence leading to his demise, and critically, how this incident becomes the primary justification for Joab's later assassination of Abner.

2 Samuel 2 24 Word analysis

• But Asahel (וְעֲשָׂהאֵל֙ - ve'asah'el): Asahel, meaning "God has made" or "God's creature," was one of David's mighty men, distinguished by his swiftness. The emphasis on his name highlights his individual choice and the personal nature of this encounter, rather than just another casualty in a large battle.
• refused to turn aside (מֵאֵ֨ן לָס֔וּר - ma'en la'sur): This signifies an obstinate and unyielding will. Asahel explicitly declined Abner's repeated warnings and alternative suggestions, demonstrating a determination to pursue Abner alone. This highlights a critical point of refusal, directly leading to the tragic outcome.
• so Abner (וַיַּכֵּ֨הוּ אַבְנֵ֜ר - vayyakkehu 'avnēr): Abner, "My father is a lamp," Saul's commander and an experienced warrior. The action taken is directly attributed to Abner as a consequence of Asahel's persistence.
• struck him (וַיַּכֵּ֨הוּ - vayyakkehu): The verb implies a forceful blow. This was not a light tap but a definitive act of striking, necessary to repel the relentless pursuit.
• with the butt end of his spear (בְּאַחֲרֵ֣י הַחֲנִ֗ית - b'akharey hahchanît): Literally "with the hinder part of the spear." This refers to the end opposite the main blade, often fitted with a heavy metal butt, a secondary point, or a spade-like shovel, used to brace the spear in the ground or for a less lethal blow. Abner used this not out of a desire for a clean kill but likely as a defensive maneuver to disable Asahel without intentionally running him through with the main spearhead, emphasizing Abner's reluctance to kill him directly or outright.
• and pierced him through (וַיִּלְחָלֵ֔הוּ - vayyilḥālēhu): To pierce or thrust completely through. Despite using the "butt end," the force and Asahel's forward momentum were such that it resulted in a fatal, penetrating wound. This implies the sheer speed of Asahel's charge and the accidental, yet lethal, efficacy of Abner's defensive thrust.
• so that he died on the spot (וַיָּ֣מָת שָׁ֔ם - vayyamāth shām): Emphasizes the immediacy and certainty of Asahel's death. The location becomes significant as a landmark for those who follow.
• And all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died stood still. (וְכָל־הַבָּא֙ אֶל־הַמָּק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁר־נָֽפַל־שָׁ֤ם עֲשָׂהאֵל֙ וַיָּ֔מֹת יַעֲמֹ֖דוּ - v'chol-habbā' 'el-hammaqom 'asher-nāfal-shām 'asah'el vayyamot ya'amodu): This denotes a collective halt or pause. The pursuit was momentarily suspended due to the shock, grief, or respect for the prominent warrior's unexpected death. It signifies the profound impact Asahel's death had on both sides, recognizing the tragic loss of a notable warrior and the unexpected nature of his demise.

2 Samuel 2 24 Bonus section

• Catalyst for Vengeance: This specific death serves as the primary and immediate justification for Joab's premeditated killing of Abner later (2 Sam 3:27). Asahel was Joab's full brother, and the law of the "avenger of blood" (Goel Hadam) bound Joab to seek vengeance for his kin's death, despite Abner's initial warning and his attempt at a non-lethal intervention.
• Battle Etiquette and Tragedy: Abner's multiple warnings to Asahel highlight an implicit code of conduct or strategy in ancient warfare, where a superior warrior might not wish to waste his time on a lesser opponent, especially a kinsman, and preferred not to slay one from his own nation. Asahel's disregard for this battle "etiquette" and his singular focus on Abner, combined with Abner's attempt at restraint, made the outcome a tragic accident born of Asahel's persistence rather than Abner's malice.
• Foreshadowing Abner's Death: There is a strong parallel between Abner killing Asahel (an unintentional defensive kill with an unusual weapon, resulting from Asahel's refusal to turn aside) and Abner's own death later at the hands of Joab (a premeditated act of vengeance, under false pretenses). Both deaths involve surprising blows and contribute to the overarching theme of a cycle of bloodshed.

2 Samuel 2 24 Commentary

This verse is a concise and poignant account of a pivotal event in the burgeoning civil war. Asahel's youthful fervor and overconfidence, manifesting as an unyielding pursuit of Abner, directly clash with Abner's battle experience and initial desire to avoid an unnecessary kinsman killing. Abner's use of the butt of his spear is a significant detail, illustrating his attempt at a defensive, perhaps non-lethal, action, highlighting his reluctance. However, Asahel's swift charge and the raw force of the blow make it fatally effective. The collective pause of the advancing forces after Asahel's fall underscores the weight and unexpected tragedy of his death. This singular event, born from Asahel's relentless will, seals his fate and critically, provides the catalyst for Joab's unwavering and ultimately successful pursuit of blood revenge against Abner, thus escalating the cycle of violence between the houses of David and Saul.