Bible Strands
2 Samuel 2:18
The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator introduces Joab, Abishai, and Asahel at a battlefield moment immediately following the defeat of Abner’s forces by David’s men.
The words — שְׁלֹשָׁה (shloshah) = three, and עֲשָׂהאֵל (Asahel) = God has made.
The thread — The text’s description of Asahel’s speed runs parallel to the Gadites’ swiftness in 1 Chronicles 12:8 and to the divine empowerment of movement in Habakkuk 3:19 and Psalm 18:33.
Why it lands — The verse records a factual roster of military leaders before highlighting Asahel’s physical capability, which directly sets up his reckless pursuit in the following line.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 12:8 Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the wilderness. They were mighty men of valor, trained for battle, experts with the shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were as swift as gazelles on the mountains:
- Habakkuk 3:19 GOD the Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer; He makes me walk upon the heights! For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments.
- Psalms 18:33 He makes my feet like those of a deer and stations me upon the heights.
- Song of Solomon 2:17 Before the day breaks and shadows flee, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of Bether.
- Song of Solomon 8:14 Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.
- 1 Samuel 26:6 And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered Abishai.
- 2 Samuel 1:23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, were not divided in death. They were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions.
- 1 Chronicles 2:15 Ozem sixth, and David seventh.
- 1 Chronicles 11:26 Now these were the mighty men: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
- Psalms 147:10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.