King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth [rib], 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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
But he still refused to turn aside; so Avner stabbed him in the groin with the back end of the spear, so that the shaft protruded behind him. He fell down and died on the spot. Everyone who came to the place where 'Asah'el lay dead stopped there.
Berean Standard Bible:
But Asahel refused to turn away; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into his stomach, and it came out his back, and he fell dead on the spot. And every man paused when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.
American Standard Version:
Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him in the body, 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.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Howbeit he refused{H3985} to turn aside{H5493}: wherefore Abner{H74} with the hinder end{H310} of the spear{H2595} smote{H5221} him under{H413} the fifth{H2570} rib, that the spear{H2595} came out{H3318} behind{H310} him; and he fell down{H5307} there, and died{H4191} in the same place{H8478}: and it came to pass, that as many as came{H935} to the place{H4725} where Asahel{H6214} fell down{H5307} and died{H4191} stood still{H5975}.
Cross-References (KJV):
2 Samuel 3:27
- And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth [rib], that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
2 Samuel 4:6
- And they came thither into the midst of the house, [as though] they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth [rib]: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
2 Samuel 20:10
- But Amasa took no heed to the sword that [was] in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth [rib], and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
2 Samuel 5:6
- ¶ And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.
2 Samuel 20:12
- And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.
2 Samuel 20:13
- When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 2 Samuel 2:23
2 Samuel 2:23 is part of the narrative that follows the death of King Saul and the subsequent struggle for power between the house of Saul and the newly anointed King David. The verse describes a specific incident in the conflict between David's general, Joab, and Abner, who is the commander of Saul's army and supports Saul's son Ish-bosheth as king.
In this verse, Abner is involved in a pursuit with Asahel, who is Joab's brother and a swift runner. Despite Abner's warnings for Asahel to desist and avoid unnecessary bloodshed, Asahel persists in the chase. The text highlights the tragic consequence of Asahel's determination as Abner, using the butt of his spear, strikes Asahel fatally. The precise and deadly blow under the fifth rib results in Asahel's immediate death, and the sight of his body causes those following to halt in shock and dismay.
The themes present in this verse include the futility of vengeance and the tragic consequences of war, as the death of Asahel serves as a poignant moment in the ongoing conflict. It also underscores the personal and familial impact of the broader political struggle, setting the stage for future vendettas and bloodshed between the houses of Saul and David. The historical context reflects the tumultuous transition of power in Israel and the human cost of civil war, as individuals and their families are caught in the violent shift of dynastic rule. Abner's action, while in self-defense, is also a reflection of the brutal realities of warfare and the harsh decisions made in the heat of battle.
*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: H3985
There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָאֵן
Transliteration: mâʼên
Pronunciation: maw-ane'
Description: a primitive root; to refuse; refuse, [idiom] utterly. - 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: 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: 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. - Strong's Number: H2595
There are 40 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֲנִית
Transliteration: chănîyth
Pronunciation: khan-eeth'
Description: lemma חֲניִת second vowel, corrected to חֲנִית; from חָנָה; a lance (for thrusting, like pitching a tent); javelin, spear. - Strong's Number: H5221
There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָכָה
Transliteration: nâkâh
Pronunciation: naw-kaw'
Description: a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound. - Strong's Number: H413
There are 185 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵל
Transliteration: ʼêl
Pronunciation: ale
Description: (but only used in the shortened constructive form אֶל ); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e.; near, with or among; often in general, to; about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in). - Strong's Number: H2570
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֹמֶשׁ
Transliteration: chômesh
Pronunciation: kho'-mesh
Description: from an unused root probably meaning, to be stout; the abdomen (as obese); fifth (rib). - Strong's Number: H3318
There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָצָא
Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. - Strong's Number: H5307
There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָפַל
Transliteration: nâphal
Pronunciation: naw-fal'
Description: a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative); be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for פָּלַל), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be ([idiom] hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, [idiom] surely, throw down. - Strong's Number: H4191
There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוּת
Transliteration: mûwth
Pronunciation: mooth
Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise. - Strong's Number: H8478
There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תַּחַת
Transliteration: tachath
Pronunciation: takh'-ath
Description: from the same as תּוֹחַ; the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc.; as, beneath, [idiom] flat, in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead of, under, [idiom] unto, [idiom] when...was mine, whereas, (where-) fore, with. - Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H4725
There are 379 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָקוֹם
Transliteration: mâqôwm
Pronunciation: maw-kome'
Description: or מָקֹם; also (feminine) מְקוֹמָה; or מְקֹמָה; from קוּם; properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind); country, [idiom] home, [idiom] open, place, room, space, [idiom] whither(-soever). - 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: H5975
There are 495 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָמַד
Transliteration: ʻâmad
Pronunciation: aw-mad'
Description: a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive); abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, [phrase] serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry.