12 And Abner son of Ner goeth out, and servants of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 And Joab son of Zeruiah, and servants of David, have gone out, and they meet by the pool of Gibeon together, and sit down, these by the pool on this 'side', and these by the pool on that. 14 And Abner saith unto Joab, 'Let the youths rise, I pray thee, and they play before us;' and Joab saith, 'Let them rise.' 15 And they rise and pass over, in number twelve of Benjamin, even of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16 And they lay hold, each on the head of his companion, and his sword 'is' in the side of his companion, and they fall together, and 'one' calleth that place Helkath-Hazzurim, which 'is' in Gibeon, 17 and the battle is very hard on that day, and Abner is smitten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
18 And there are there three sons of Zeruiah, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel, and Asahel 'is' light on his feet, as one of the roes which 'are' in the field, 19 And Asahel pursueth after Abner, and hath not turned aside to go to the right or to the left, from after Abner. 20 And Abner looketh behind him, and saith, 'Art thou he—Asahel?' and he saith, 'I 'am'.' 21 And Abner saith to him, 'Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and seize for thee one of the youths, and take to thee his armour;' and Asahel hath not been willing to turn aside from after him. 22 And Abner addeth again, saying unto Asahel, 'Turn thee aside from after me, why do I smite thee to the earth? and how do I lift up my face unto Joab thy brother?' 23 And he refuseth to turn aside, and Abner smiteth him with the hinder part of the spear unto the fifth 'rib', and the spear cometh out from behind him, and he falleth there, and dieth under it; and it cometh to pass, every one who hath come unto the place where Asahel hath fallen and dieth—they stand still. 24 And Joab and Abishai pursue after Abner, and the sun hath gone in, and they have come in unto the height of Ammah, which 'is' on the front of Giah, the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
25 And the sons of Benjamin gather themselves together after Abner, and become one troop, and stand on the top of a certain height, 26 and Abner calleth unto Joab, and saith, 'For ever doth the sword consume? hast thou not known that it is bitterness in the latter end? and till when dost thou not say to the people to turn back from after their brethren?' 27 And Joab saith, 'God liveth! for unless thou hadst spoken, surely then from the morning had the people gone up each from after his brother.' 28 And Joab bloweth with a trumpet, and all the people stand still, and pursue no more after Israel, nor have they added any more to fight. 29 And Abner and his men have gone through the plain all that night, and pass over the Jordan, and go on 'through' all Bithron, and come in to Mahanaim. 30 And Joab hath turned back from after Abner, and gathereth all the people, and there are lacking of the servants of David nineteen men, and Asahel; 31 and the servants of David have smitten of Benjamin, even among the men of Abner, three hundred and sixty men—they died. 32 And they lift up Asahel, and bury him in the burying-place of his father, which 'is' in Beth-Lehem, and they go all the night—Joab and his men—and it is light to them in Hebron.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 2:12-32
Commentary on 2 Samuel 2:8-17.
(Read 2 Samuel 2:8-17.)
The nation in general refused David. By this the Lord trained up his servant for future honour and usefulness; and the tendency of true godliness was shown in his behaviour while passing through various difficulties. David was herein a type of Christ, whom Israel would not submit to, though anointed of the Father to be a Prince and a Saviour to them. Abner meant, Let the young men fight before us, when he said, Let them play before us: fools thus make a mock at sin. But he is unworthy the name of a man, that can thus trifle with human blood.
Commentary on 2 Samuel 2:18-24
(Read 2 Samuel 2:18-24)
Death often comes by ways we least suspect. We are often betrayed by the accomplishments we are proud of! Asahel's swiftness, which he presumed so much upon, did him no service, but hastened his end.
Commentary on 2 Samuel 2:25-32
(Read 2 Samuel 2:25-32)
Abner appeals to Joab concerning the miserable consequences of a civil war. Those who make light of such unnatural contests, will find that they are bitterness to all concerned. How easy it is for men to use reason, when it makes for them, who would not use it, if it made against them! See how the issue of things alter men's minds! The same thing which looked pleasant in the morning, at night looked dismal. Those who are most forward to enter into contention, will repent before they have done with it, and had better leave it off before it be meddled with, as Solomon advises. This is true of every sin, oh that men would consider it in time, that it will be bitterness in the latter end! Asahel's funeral is here mentioned. Distinctions are made between the dust of some and that of others; but in the resurrection no difference will be made, but between the godly and ungodly, which will remain for ever.