King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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 armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Avner said to him, "Turn off to your right or your left, catch one of the young men and take his armor." But 'Asah'el wouldn't turn aside and kept following him.
Berean Standard Bible:
So Abner told him, “Turn to your right or to your left, seize one of the young men, and take his equipment for yourself.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.
American Standard Version:
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 him.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Abner{H74} said{H559} to him, Turn thee aside{H5186} to thy right hand{H3225} or to thy left{H8040}, and lay thee hold{H270} on one{H259} of the young men{H5288}, and take{H3947} thee his armour{H2488}. But Asahel{H6214} would{H14} not turn aside{H5493} from following{H310} of him.
Cross-References (KJV):
Judges 14:19
- And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 2 Samuel 2:21
2 Samuel 2:21 is part of the narrative that describes the conflict between the forces of David and those loyal to the house of Saul after King Saul's death. This verse specifically captures a moment during a pursuit between Abner, the commander of Saul's army, and Asahel, the brother of Joab (David's commander). Asahel, known for his swiftness, is chasing Abner with the intent to kill him.
In this verse, Abner, recognizing Asahel's intent and his own potential vulnerability, tries to dissuade Asahel from continuing the pursuit. He suggests that Asahel instead take the armor of any of the young men they pass, implying that Asahel is not yet equipped to fight him and that continuing the chase would be unwise. Abner's words can be seen as both a warning and an attempt to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, as he is aware of the potential consequences of killing Asahel, who is a member of David's kin.
However, Asahel's determination and loyalty to David drive him to ignore Abner's advice. His refusal to turn aside from following Abner underscores the intensity of the conflict and the personal nature of the vendetta that has developed between the two factions vying for power in Israel. This moment of choice for Asahel foreshadows the tragic outcome of the pursuit, as it leads to Asahel's death at the hands of Abner, which in turn escalates the animosity between the houses of David and Saul, leading to further bloodshed and conflict.
The themes present in this verse include the futility of vengeance, the personal cost of war, and the complexities of loyalty and duty. It also highlights the tensions of the transition period between Saul's reign and the eventual establishment of David's kingship over a united Israel and Judah. The historical context reflects the broader narrative of political intrigue, military confrontation, and the establishment of David's dynasty, which would become central to Israel's history and the messianic promises in the biblical tradition.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H74
There are 1865 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַבְנֵר
Transliteration: ʼAbnêr
Pronunciation: ab-nare'
Description: or (fully) אֲבִינֵר ; from אָב and נִיר; father of light (i.e. enlightening); Abner, an Israelite; Abner. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H5186
There are 207 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָטָה
Transliteration: nâṭâh
Pronunciation: naw-taw'
Description: a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application; [phrase] afternoon, apply, bow (down, -ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down, be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched, overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread (out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away), wrest, cause to yield. - Strong's Number: H3225
There are 133 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָמִין
Transliteration: yâmîyn
Pronunciation: yaw-meen'
Description: from יָמַן; the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south; [phrase] left-handed, right (hand, side), south. - Strong's Number: H8040
There are 53 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׂמֹאול
Transliteration: sᵉmôʼwl
Pronunciation: sem-ole'
Description: or שְׂמֹאל; a primitive word (rather perhaps from the same as שִׂמְלָה (by insertion of the aleph) through the idea of wrapping up); properly, dark (as enveloped), i.e. the north; hence (by orientation), the left hand; left (hand, side). - Strong's Number: H270
There are 305 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָחַז
Transliteration: ʼâchaz
Pronunciation: aw-khaz'
Description: a primitive root; to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession); [phrase] be affrighted, bar, (catch, lay, take) hold (back), come upon, fasten, handle, portion, (get, have or take) possess(-ion). - Strong's Number: H259
There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶחָד
Transliteration: ʼechâd
Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, - Strong's Number: H5288
There are 221 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נַעַר
Transliteration: naʻar
Pronunciation: nah'-ar
Description: from נָעַר; (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age); babe, boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young (man). - Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H2488
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֲלִיצָה
Transliteration: chălîytsâh
Pronunciation: khal-ee-tsaw'
Description: from חֶלֶץ; spoil; armour. - Strong's Number: H6214
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֲשָׂהאֵל
Transliteration: ʻĂsâhʼêl
Pronunciation: as-aw-ale'
Description: from עָשָׂה and אֵל; God has made; Asahel, the name of four Israelites; Asahel. - Strong's Number: H14
There are 1894 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָבָה
Transliteration: ʼâbâh
Pronunciation: aw-baw'
Description: a primitive root; to breathe after, i.e. (figuratively) to be acquiescent; consent, rest content will, be willing. - Strong's Number: H5493
There are 283 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סוּר
Transliteration: çûwr
Pronunciation: soor
Description: or שׂוּר; (Hosea 9:12), a primitive root; to turn off (literal or figurative); be(-head), bring, call back, decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), [idiom] grievous, lay away (by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away, down), rebel, remove (to and fro), revolt, [idiom] be sour, take (away, off), turn (aside, away, in), withdraw, be without. - Strong's Number: H310
There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַחַר
Transliteration: ʼachar
Pronunciation: akh-ar'
Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.