And the battle that day was very severe; and Abner and the men of Israel were routed before the servants of David.
Two armies from the same nation meet at the pool of Gibeon, and a contest between picked men turns into slaughter. The real question is not who won, but why Israelites were killing Israelites at all — and what such a win is worth.
One writer sums up the day and draws the lesson from Abner's own question later in the chapter:
They slaughtered each other at Helkath-hazzurim, "the field of sharp swords." After that came a severe battle, which ended with Abner's defeat… "Shall the sword devour forever?" was Abner's question. As long as God's true King is not on the throne, ruling in righteousness and peace, wars and bloodshed will continue. The sword cannot be stopped till He reigns.
One writer asks what these men should have done instead:
All these men belong to the people of God. They are brothers but they are here with weapons in their hands — ready to fall upon one another in support of the cause which is right in their eyes. This is war among the people of God. Such a course can never be good. Why not suffer injustice, if necessary? "Why not rather suffer wrong?" (1 Cor. 6:7). Why not wait for the Lord to overrule in things that may arise between brothers?
One commentator sees the same thing happening among believers now:
How tragic to see Israelites fighting their fellow Israelites! The war against the Philistines, the real enemies of God's people, had now stopped. Israel was following leaders they chose for themselves. The record mentions no effort to find out the will of God in the matter… The highly gifted Corinthians were choosing sides among those whom God was using in that day. "I follow Paul," "I follow Apollos," "I follow Cephas," "I follow Christ" — these were their battle cries (1 Cor. 1:12). Our real battle is abandoned while we fight one another!
The verse calls the winners "the servants of David." That name raises a question:
We notice that David himself does not appear in this incident. Even though his servants claim to be defending his rights, he is not with them. Make no mistake, the Lord will never be with us when we fight against our brothers.
So what did the day's fighting settle?
The contest decided nothing. It was only the beginning of a battle that drew in both armies, and many more were dead before it was over. Nor did the battle make any real difference in the situation, though it was won by Judah. Only God's work can bring about unity among His people.
The same writer turns that hand-to-hand killing into a warning for believers:
They did not stop to consider that they were all Israelites, and therefore brothers. But since that time the people of God have too often used the sword of the word of God cruelly against others of God's people. They could have used it for the good of others instead.
One writer traces the fault back to its root:
It is Abner. He is a man morally superior to Joab, but he fights on the principles of the flesh as a party man against the king whom God has chosen… And in what did the courage and valour of the chiefs of Benjamin and Judah now show itself in this "field of strong men"? In slaying each other. The Philistines were forgotten. But the family of Saul were entirely in the wrong. It was nature which, with its pretended rights, would not submit to God and to His will.
The commander who won that day came to his own end:
Even the death of Abner did not put an end to this miserable history… For many long years Joab had been at the head of David's armies, honoured among the people of God, victorious over their enemies. But all this activity was worth nothing, either in the eyes of God or in David's… In the end God's government gave him his due. He died a wretched death by the sword, in the very house of God where he thought he had found safety.
- Cause — Saul's house would not submit to the king God had chosen. That refusal is the root of the whole war.
- Absence — his servants claimed to defend David's rights, but David was not there. The Lord is never with His people when they fight each other.
- Distraction — nobody fought the Philistines while Israel fought Israel. We drop the real battle whenever we turn our weapons on one another.
- Emptiness — Judah won, and nothing changed. Only God's work brings unity among His people.
- Cost — one day's bloodshed led on to Abner's death and Joab's ruin. The sword keeps devouring until the true King reigns.
And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was swift of foot, as one of the gazelles that are in the field.
Commentary for this verse has not been generated yet.
And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from behind Abner.
Asahel picks one man out of a retreating army and runs straight at him. It looks like pure courage, but commentators ask two questions: whose battle was this, and what happens when a man's gifts outrun his wisdom?
At Gibeon, Israelites fought Israelites. Men loyal to Saul's house faced men loyal to David. One writer notices who is missing from the scene.
We notice that David himself does not appear in this incident. Even though his servants claim to be vindicating his rights, he is not with them. Make no mistake, the Lord will never be with us when we fight against our brothers.
Another writer sees that same absence as the reason the day achieved nothing.
The two troops meet (vv. 12-17). For what purpose? To test their strength. Where is God? Absent. Where is David? His name is not even mentioned. It is a matter of who will come out on top in this contest. Not a single one of the contending parties escapes. David loses his servants and his cause is not advanced in the least.
Asahel's speed let him stay with Abner. One commentator notes what he lacked once he got there.
Judah pursues Israel in the battle, and Asahel, the brother of Joab and Abishai, picks out Abner to pursue him. Being very swift of foot, he could easily keep up with Abner. If Joab had been in his place, he would not have hesitated to kill Abner. But Asahel was clearly not a trained soldier. He only wanted to be sure that Abner did not escape.
Abner warned him off. One writer reads the refusal not as bravery but as self-will.
What follows this strange contest is a full battle. In it Joab loses a much-loved brother — a brother toward whom Abner had shown his natural nobility of character. But Asahel would not take heed. He charges forward, filled with presumption. A victim of his own desire for glory, he falls to the ground, struck down by Abner's spear.
What did the chase cost him? One writer weighs it against the life he might have had.
No special mention is made of Asahel. He might have achieved some act of valor. But his confidence in himself and in his own quickness cost him his career very early, through his meeting with Abner.
Another commentator sums up the same failing in one line.
Asahel did not lack zeal, but did lack knowledge and wisdom as to warfare.
Asahel's death did not end at Gibeon. The chase that starts in this verse ends in a murder.
We might perhaps have thought that all was over, but sadly this was not the case. Joab holds hatred in his heart against Abner for the death of his brother Asahel. At the first chance he gets, he kills him by treachery with the sword. Peace was very far from their hearts.
Another writer looks past this one chase to the reason such fighting never stops.
God's true King does not yet sit on the throne, ruling in righteousness and in peace. Until He does, wars and bloodshed will continue. Nothing can stop the sword until He reigns.
Asahel ran hard after the wrong man. One commentator points to Hebron instead, and to the person found there.
The faithful soul has only one resource left: to take refuge at Hebron with the one who is the only center of blessing. His presence gives peace, happiness, and wonderful rest. But when our David rises to do battle, let us follow Him with courage. To fight with Him is to win a sure and lasting victory over the enemy.
- Absent King. David's name never appears in the fight his servants claim to wage for him. A battle he has not joined is a battle he will not bless.
- Gift. Asahel was very swift of foot. His speed let him keep pace with Abner with ease.
- Straight line. Turning neither right nor left looks like devotion. Commentators call it presumption and a hunger for glory.
- Gap. He had zeal without the knowledge and wisdom to match it — and the gap, not the enemy, is what killed him.
- Aftermath. One chase cost Asahel his life. Joab's revenge then cost Abner his, and David's cause gained nothing.
Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he said, I am.
Abner is fleeing the battlefield at Gibeon, and a fast young man is closing in on him from behind. Before a blow is struck, the old commander turns and asks who is chasing him — and the answer, Joab's own brother, will cost two lives.
The pursuit begins with a deliberate choice of target.
Judah pursues Israel in the battle, and Asahel, the brother of Joab and Abishai, picks out Abner to pursue him. He was very fast on his feet, so he could keep up with Abner. If Joab had been in his place, he would not have hesitated to kill Abner. But Asahel was clearly not an experienced soldier. He only wanted to make sure that Abner did not escape.
Abner's question — "Is it you, Asahel?" — is not idle curiosity. He already suspected the answer, and having it confirmed is what makes him try to shake off his pursuer.
Abner suspected that it was Asahel who followed him. Once he knew for sure, he told him to leave him and chase someone else (v.21). Abner did not want to fight it out with Asahel and kill him. He was afraid that if he did, he would earn Joab's special hatred.
The name Asahel, spoken aloud, is the name of Joab's brother. Abner is a seasoned soldier, cousin to Saul and captain of Saul's army, and he sees exactly where this is heading.
In one of the conflicts between the two houses Abner was overcome, and Asahel, Joab's brother, 'light of foot as a wild roe,' pursued Abner. Abner cautioned him twice, and then slew him. 2 Sam. 2:17-23. This act of self-defence was afterwards made the plea for Abner's death.
Commentators read Abner's conduct as genuine decency, and Asahel's refusal to heed it as the failure.
What follows this strange contest is a full battle. In it Joab loses a much-loved brother — a brother toward whom Abner had shown his natural nobility of character. But Asahel would not listen. He charges forward, full of presumption, and Abner's spear strikes him down. He falls to the ground, a victim of his own desire for glory.
Later, when David's best soldiers are honoured, Asahel's record is thin. The reason goes back to this chase.
There is no special mention of Asahel. He might have done some brave deed. But his confidence in himself and in his speed cut his career short very early, through his encounter with Abner (2 Sam. 2:18-24).
The lesson here is about who a servant of Christ is willing to harm.
Asahel's career was cut short by too much zeal, without the grace and wisdom needed to balance it. What might have been a brilliant path of service came to a sudden end. The spear of one of God's own people killed him — a distinguished soldier whom he insisted on chasing, despite a warning that came in time. It is not for the servants of Christ to seek the harm of any of God's children. Let us learn a lesson from Asahel's sad mistake. David never chased Saul, though Saul often sought David's life.
Both sides in this battle belong to God's people.
All these men belong to the people of God. They are brothers. Yet here they stand with weapons in their hands, ready to attack one another for the cause that seems right in their own eyes. This is war among the people of God. Such a course can never be good. Why not suffer injustice, if necessary? 'Why not rather suffer wrong?' (1 Cor. 6:7). Why not wait for the Lord to overrule in things that may arise between brothers?
The king whose rights are at stake never appears in the scene.
We notice that David himself does not appear in this incident. Even though his servants claim to be vindicating his rights, he is not with them. Make no mistake, the Lord will never be with us when we fight against our brothers.
Abner's caution was well-founded. Joab later took his revenge, treating a battlefield death as murder.
Joab no doubt considered that he was "the avenger of blood" for his brother Asahel, and he was able to kill Abner just outside Hebron, the city of refuge (Josh. 20:7-9). Inside the city Abner would have been safe. Joab ignored that Asahel had died in battle, and he killed Abner while acting as a friend toward him. Joab had rebuked David for letting Abner deceive him, but his own dealings with Abner were far more cunning and deceitful.
- Recognition. Abner looks back and names his pursuer. Knowing who is chasing him changes everything: this is no enemy, but a fellow Israelite and Joab's own brother.
- Warning. Abner tells Asahel to turn aside. He knows that killing him would bring Joab's lasting hatred down on his head.
- Refusal. Asahel keeps running. Commentators trace his death to self-confidence and a hunger for glory, not to any lack of courage.
- Cost. Speed without wisdom ended what could have been a fine career. When David's best soldiers are honoured, Asahel gets no special mention.
- Aftermath. The pursuit did not stop at Gibeon. Joab took his revenge by treachery. And the Lord is never with His people when they fight one another.
And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside, to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay hold of one of the young men, and take for thyself his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.
Abner is running from a lost battle, and Asahel — Joab's brother, very fast on his feet — is closing in on him. Abner calls back an easier offer: leave me, take a younger soldier and his spoil instead — and everything that follows hangs on why he offered that, and why Asahel said no.
This chase is not Israel against an outside enemy. Both armies belong to the same people. One commentator calls it what it is:
All these men belong to the people of God. They are brothers but they are here with weapons in their hands — ready to fall upon one another in support of the cause which is right in their eyes. This is war among the people of God. Such a course can never be good. Why not suffer injustice, if necessary? "Why not rather suffer wrong?" (1 Cor. 6:7). Why not wait for the Lord to overrule in things that may arise between brothers?
David's throne is what both sides claim to be fighting over. Yet he is not there:
We notice that David himself does not appear in this incident. Even though his servants claim to be defending his rights, he is not with them. Make no mistake, the Lord will never be with us when we fight against our brothers.
The offer of spoil is not a taunt. Abner is trying to get rid of Asahel without killing him, and he has a reason:
Asahel, the brother of Joab and Abishai, picks out Abner to pursue him. Being very swift of foot, he could easily keep up with Abner. If Joab had been in his place, he would not have hesitated to kill Abner. But Asahel was clearly not a practised man of war. He only wanted to be sure that Abner did not escape. Abner suspected it was Asahel who followed him, and when he was sure of it, he told him to leave him and follow someone else (v. 21). Abner did not want to fight it out with Asahel and kill him. He was afraid that doing so might bring on himself the special hatred of Joab.
When Abner does finally strike, one writer treats it as an act of battle, not a crime. Abner "had killed him in the battle," and he takes that as "proof that there was nothing to condemn in Abner's act" (H. L. Rossier).
Speed is not skill. The gap between them cost him his life:
Asahel, however, after a second warning from Abner, refused to listen to him. He kept following very close behind him. He was not ready for Abner's cunning expertise in war… Asahel did not lack zeal, but he did lack knowledge and wisdom about warfare.
Another writer reads the same refusal as a hunger to be the one who brought down the enemy commander:
But Asahel would not pay attention; he charges forward, filled with presumption and, a victim of his own desire for glory, falls to the ground, struck down by Abner's spear. Joab will not forget this death. He will satisfy his desire for revenge at the moment when it brings him the greatest advantage.
One writer looks for Asahel's record of achievement and finds it empty:
No special mention is made of Asahel. He might have accomplished some act of valour. But his confidence in himself and in his agility ended his career very early, in his encounter with Abner.
Another writer turns that danger on the reader, and traces most of our falls to one root:
Let us beware of self-confidence. I suspect it has something to do with nine-tenths of the falls that we suffer. Does someone say, "I do not think I am self-confident"? Wait a moment: do not settle that too quickly. If you are a young believer there is nothing that is more likely to be a snare. You may be earnest and enthusiastic after a bright conversion. That very fact may lead you to feel you have a bright future, with nothing to stop you.
Asahel's refusal did not end with his own death. It left a grudge in his brother:
We might have thought that all was over, but sadly it was not. Joab holds hatred in his heart against Abner for the death of his brother, Asahel. At the first opportunity he kills him by treachery with the sword. Peace was very far from their hearts.
- Absent King. David is nowhere in this fight, though both sides claim his rights are the issue. The Lord is never with us when we fight our brothers.
- Offered Exit. Abner's words are an offer of escape, not an insult; he did not want to kill Asahel and warned him twice.
- Refused Warning. Asahel had zeal but not knowledge. Presumption and a desire for glory carried him past his last chance to stop.
- Shortened Career. Confidence in his own speed ended a life that might have earned real honour. No special mention of him remains.
- Long Bitterness. One ignored warning bred Joab's grudge and then Abner's murder. Fighting your own brothers can never be good.
And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me why should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?
Abner is running for his life after a lost battle. Asahel — Joab's brother, and fast on his feet — is closing in behind him. Abner's second warning is not a boast. It is a plea, and his reason has nothing to do with Asahel. It has everything to do with Asahel's brother Joab.
Both armies here belong to the same people. One writer refuses to soften what that means.
All these men belong to the people of God. They are brothers but they are here with weapons in their hands — ready to fall upon one another in support of the cause which is right in their eyes. This is war among the people of God. Such a course can never be good. Why not suffer injustice, if necessary? "Why not rather suffer wrong?" (1 Cor. 6:7). Why not wait for the Lord to overrule in things that may arise between brothers?
One name is missing from the fight.
We notice that David himself does not appear in this incident. Even though his servants claim to be defending his rights, he is not with them. Make no mistake, the Lord will never be with us when we fight against our brothers.
Abner was the stronger, more experienced fighter. He warns instead of striking, and his reason is fear of Joab.
Judah pursues Israel in the battle, and Asahel — the brother of Joab and Abishai — picks out Abner to chase. Asahel was very swift of foot, so he could keep up with Abner easily. If Joab had been in his place, he would not have hesitated to kill Abner. But Asahel was clearly not a trained soldier. He only wanted to be sure that Abner did not escape. Abner suspected it was Asahel who followed him. Once he was sure of it, he told him to leave him and follow someone else (v. 21). Abner did not want to fight it out with Asahel and kill him. He was afraid that if he did, he might bring Joab's particular hatred down on himself.
Asahel's speed was real, and so was his courage. What he lacked was the judgment to hear a warning.
But Asahel would not take heed; he charges forward, filled with presumption and, a victim of his own desire for glory, falls to the ground, struck down by Abner's spear. Joab will not forget this death but will satisfy his desire for vengeance later, when it will bring him the greatest advantage.
The cost shows up much later, in the roll of David's honoured soldiers, where Asahel's name is absent.
No special mention is made of Asahel. He might have accomplished some act of valour, but his confidence in himself and in his speed cut short his career very early through his encounter with Abner (2 Sam. 2:18-24).
His fear of facing Joab afterwards was not cowardice. It was accurate, and years later it killed him — because he forgot his own warning.
If Abner had been on guard, he would have made sure to get inside the city of refuge before meeting Joab. He had expected long before that killing Asahel would bring Joab's anger on him (ch. 2:22). But his wisdom deserted him at that moment, and he fell "as one falls before the wicked."
Long afterwards, the law still stood on Abner's side, and not on Joab's.
Joab commits murder in a time of peace and so avenges himself for Asahel's death. Yet Abner had "put him to death in the battle" (v. 30) — proof that there was nothing blameworthy in Abner's act (compare 2 Sam. 2:20-23). This is the personal motive behind the terrible deed. But anyone who knows Joab and his ambition to command the army suspects another motive. Joab fears Abner's worth and authority, which at that time had been shown far more than his own merits. Joab has everything to gain through his revenge.
Abner's question about facing Joab shows how a feud works. One writer presses that home.
Let us remember that the leaders of parties are especially at risk in conflicts between brothers. Shall the sword devour for ever? What will be the result? Only bitterness in the end. It cannot be otherwise. Dear redeemed of the Lord — we for whom Christ died — let us beware of this today more than ever. He who is a liar and a murderer from the beginning stirs up his slaves against one another. Are we going to behave the same way in the house of God? Let us be careful! "If you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another" (Gal. 5:15).
- Brothers. Both armies belonged to the same people. Pursuer and pursued should never have been on opposite sides.
- Absent. David's name never appears in the fight fought in his name — and the Lord is never with us when we fight our brothers.
- Warned. Abner asked Asahel twice to turn aside. That was not weakness. He could see the blood feud his own self-defence would start.
- Deaf. Asahel's speed was genuine. His self-confidence was fatal. He charged past a warning and died on Abner's spear.
- Bitter. Abner's fear came true. Joab murdered him outside the city of refuge. Conflict between brothers ends only in bitterness.
But he refused to turn aside; therefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him in the belly, so 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.
Two armies of God's own people are at war, and here one backward thrust of a spear kills Asahel, the fastest runner on the field. Commentators read the scene as a warning about zeal that refuses correction, and as the seed of a later murder.
Abner twice told Asahel to turn aside before he struck. Writers note that the young man's courage was real but his judgment was not.
Asahel, however, after a second warning from Abner, refused to listen to him. He kept following close behind him. He was not ready for Abner's cunning skill in war. … Asahel did not lack zeal, but he did lack knowledge and wisdom about warfare.
Another writer names the motive behind the refusal.
But Asahel would not listen. Full of presumption, he charges forward. He is the victim of his own desire for glory, and he falls to the ground, struck down by Abner's spear. Joab will not forget this death. He will take his revenge at the moment when it brings him the greatest advantage.
Years later David's roll of honour lists his bravest soldiers. Asahel's name is there with no deed beside it.
There is no special mention of Asahel. He might have done some brave deed. But he trusted in himself and in his speed, and that trust cut his career short very early, through his meeting with Abner.
Abner did not want this death. He had his own reason for trying to send Asahel away.
Abner did not want to fight it out with Asahel and kill him. He was afraid that if he did, he might earn Joab's particular hatred.
That distinction matters for everything that follows. Joab will later kill Abner and call it justice for his brother. The record refuses him that cover.
Joab commits murder in a time of peace, and so takes his revenge for Asahel's death. Yet Abner had killed Asahel "in the battle" (v. 30). That is proof that there was nothing blameworthy in Abner's act.
The verse ends with every man who reaches the spot standing still. One writer explains why the chase died there.
The pursuers following Asahel were so shocked to find him dead that they stopped chasing Israel. They had thought Israel was completely beaten, and finding that Israel had struck back by killing Asahel clearly gave them second thoughts.
The men on both sides belonged to the people of God. That is what makes the fight so grim.
All these men belong to the people of God. They are brothers. Yet here they stand with weapons in their hands — ready to attack one another for the cause that seems right in their own eyes. This is war among the people of God. Such a course can never be good. Why not suffer injustice, if necessary? "Why not rather suffer wrong?" (1 Cor. 6:7). Why not wait for the Lord to settle the things that come up between brothers?
Notice who is missing. David's rights are the stated reason for the quarrel, yet he is nowhere near it.
We notice that David himself does not appear in this incident. Even though his servants claim to be defending his rights, he is not with them. Make no mistake: the Lord will never be with us when we fight against our brothers.
One writer adds up the whole episode.
The two troops meet (vv. 12-17). For what purpose? To test their strength. Where is God? Absent. Where is David? His name is not even mentioned. It is a matter of who will come out on top in this contest. Not a single one of the contending parties escapes. David loses his servants and his cause is not advanced in the least.
One writer turns the scene on the reader.
Let us remember that the leaders of parties are especially at risk in conflicts between brothers. … Shall the sword devour forever? What will be the result? Only bitterness in the end. It cannot be otherwise. … He who is a liar and a murderer from the beginning stirs up his slaves against one another. Is this not happening in the world today? Are we going to behave the same way in the house of God? Let us be careful! "If you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another" (Gal. 5:15).
- Warning — Abner warned Asahel twice and wanted no fight at all. Asahel died only after he refused both warnings.
- Presumption — Zeal without wisdom killed him. Trust in his own speed ended a promising life and left his name in David's honour roll with no deed beside it.
- Self-defence — Abner struck in open battle. That is why Joab's later killing of Abner counts as murder, not justice.
- Emptiness — Brother fought brother, and God and David were both absent. The pursuit halted at Asahel's body, and neither side gained a thing.
- Application — The sword between brothers still devours. Suffer wrong, wait for the Lord to settle it, and refuse to bite and devour one another.