SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:21
Entonces Abner le dijo: Apártate a la derecha o a la izquierda, y agárrate alguno de los jóvenes, y toma para ti sus despojos. Pero Asael no quiso apartarse de en pos de él.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:21
Verse 21. Take thee his armour.] It seems Asahel wished to get the armour of Abner as a trophy; this also was greatly coveted by ancient heroes. Abner wished to spare him, for fear of exciting Joab's enmity; but as Asahel was obstinate in the pursuit, and was swifter of foot than Abner, the latter saw that he must either kill or be killed, and therefore he turned his spear and ran it through the body of Asahel. This turning about that he might pierce him is what we translate "the hinder end of his spear." This slaying of Asahel cost Abner his life, as we shall find in the next chapter.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 21. And Abner said unto him , etc.] Having a respect for him, and consulting his good, and however fearing his brother Joab should he slay him: turn thee aside to thy right or to thy left ; he does not advise him to go back, which would have been to his disgrace, having engaged in the pursuit, but to turn to the right or left, as if pursuing some other person and not Abner: and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour ; one of the common soldiers, or an attendant on Abner, a young man like himself, whom he might be able to cope with, and take him a prisoner and disarm him, when he was not a match for such an old experienced officer as he was; and this Abner seems to speak as a friend, consulting the young man’s safety and his honour too. But, Asahel would not turn aside from following him ; fired with the ambition of taking him, and not content with any prey short of him; and perhaps was the more animated by what he said, as supposing it arose from fear of him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 18-24 - Death often comes by ways we least suspect. We are often betrayed by the accomplishments we are proud of! Asahel's swiftness, which he presumed so much upon, did him no service, but hastened his end.
Original Hebrew
ויאמר 559 לו אבנר 74 נטה 5186 לך על 5921 ימינך 3225 או 176 על 5921 שׂמאלך 8040 ואחז 270 לך אחד 259 מהנערים 5288 וקח 3947 לך את 853 חלצתו 2488 ולא 3808 אבה 14 עשׂהאל 6214 לסור 5493 מאחריו׃ 310
