Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 2:19
And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
19-32. Asahel pursued after AbnerTogain the general’s armor was deemed the grandest trophy. Asahel,ambitious of securing Abner’s, had outstripped all other pursuers,and was fast gaining on the retreating commander. Abner, conscious ofpossessing more physical power, and unwilling that there should be”blood” between himself and Joab, Asahel’s brother, twiceurged him to desist. The impetuous young soldier being deaf to thegenerous remonstrance, the veteran raised the pointed butt of hislance, as the modern Arabs do when pursued, and, with a sudden backthrust, transfixed him on the spot, so that he fell, and layweltering in his blood. But Joab and Abishai continued the pursuit byanother route till sunset. On reaching a rising ground, and receivinga fresh reinforcement of some Benjamites, Abner rallied his scatteredtroops and earnestly appealed to Joab’s better feelings to stop thefurther effusion of blood, which, if continued, would lead to moreserious consequencesa destructive civil war. Joab, whileupbraiding his opponent as the sole cause of the fray, felt the forceof the appeal and led off his men; while Abner probably dreading arenewal of the attack when Joab should learn his brother’s fate, andvow fierce revenge, endeavored, by a forced march, to cross theJordan that night. On David’s side the loss was only nineteen men,besides Asahel. But of Ish-bosheth’s party there fell three hundredand sixty. This skirmish is exactly similar to the battles of theHomeric warriors, among whom, in the flight of one, the pursuit byanother, and the dialogue held between them, there is vividlyrepresented the style of ancient warfare.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Asahel pursued after Abner,…. Ambitious of the glory of taking or slaying the general of the army of Israel; trusting to his swiftness, not considering that the race is not always to the swift, and that he had to do with a veteran soldier, and he a raw young man, though valiant:
and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left in following Abner; he kept his eye upon him, and pursued him closely, disregarding persons on the right or left he could have made prisoners; but those he neglected, being bent on taking Abner if possible.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(19) Asahel pursued after Abner.Asahel, the youngest of the three nephews of David, took part in the battle with his elder brothers, and well knowing how completely the cause of Ish-bosheth depended upon Abner, pertinaciously sought him out in the pursuit. His great fleetness enabled him to overtake Abner and, coming behind him, endanger his life. Abner was unwilling to injure him, and only after remonstrating with him, and urging him to seek the spoil of some warrior more nearly his equal (2Sa. 2:20-22), did he unwillingly slay him with the hinder end of his spear. The spears were sharpened at the hinder end for the purpose of sticking them into the ground (1Sa. 26:7). Abners reluctance to kill Asahel may have been partly on account of his extreme youth, but was chiefly through dread of the vengeance of Joab (2Sa. 2:22). The fifth rib here, and wherever else it occurs (2Sa. 3:27; 2Sa. 4:6; 2Sa. 20:10), should be translated abdomen.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2Sa 2:19 And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
Ver. 19. And Asahel pursued after Abner. ] Too great a prize for him, who was impar conyressus Achilli: but he trusted too much to his own abilities-as being no less valiant of his hands, than swift of foot – and so perished. See Ecc 9:11 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
turned: 2Sa 2:21, Jos 1:7, Jos 23:6, 2Ki 22:2, Pro 4:27
following Abner: Heb. after Abner
Reciprocal: 2Sa 3:27 – for the blood 2Sa 3:30 – because Joe 2:7 – They shall run