Bible Strands
2 Samuel 2:22
Once again, Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Abner speaks to Asahel during their chase at Gibeon, warning him to stop pursuing him after previously telling him to attack another soldier.
The words — וַ/יֹּ֧סֶף (va/i.Yo.sef) means “and he repeated,” and ס֥וּר (sur) means “turn aside,” capturing Abner’s repeated command for Asahel to stop chasing.
The thread — This pattern of repeated warning followed by fatal refusal appears in Proverbs 29:1 and foreshadows Joab’s later assassination of Abner in 2 Samuel 3:27.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that persistent pursuit of a forbidden path destroys the pursuer, requiring the reader to heed warnings before consequences become irreversible.
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 Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 3:27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.
- 2 Kings 14:10 You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become proud. Glory in that and stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”
- Proverbs 29:1 A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery.
- Ecclesiastes 6:10 Whatever exists was named long ago, and it is known what man is; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.