2 Samuel 2:21
ESV
Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and seize one of the young men and take his spoil." But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.
NIV
Then Abner said to him, "Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons." But Asahel would not stop chasing him.
NASB
So Abner said to him, 'Turn aside for your own good to your right or to your left, and take hold of one of the young men for yourself, and take for yourself his equipment.' But Asahel was unwilling to turn aside from following him.
CSB
Abner said to him, "Turn to your right or left, seize one of the young soldiers, and take whatever you can get from him." But Asahel would not stop chasing him.
NLT
Go fight someone else!' Abner warned. 'Take on one of the younger men, and strip him of his weapons.' But Asahel kept right on chasing Abner.
KJV
And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.
NKJV
And Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one of the young men and take his armor for yourself.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.
What does 2 Samuel 2:21 mean?
Abner started this fight, and now he's trying to end it. He had taken the army of the northern tribes of Israel to Gibeon to meet Joab and the army of Judah. A limited duel turned into an outright battle. Abner's side is losing badly (2 Samuel 2:12–17).Joab's brother, Asahel, found Abner in the heat of battle and ran after him. Abner fled. But Asahel is known for his speed, and Abner can't outrun him. Asahel is also one of David's thirty strongest warriors (2 Samuel 23:24). Even so, Abner was Saul's army commander back when David fought Goliath (1 Samuel 17:55). Abner will undoubtedly win a fight.
Abner doesn't want to kill Asahel, so he tries to convince Asahel to find an easier target. There are still plenty of Israelite soldiers he can kill—and he can take their armor. During this era in the ancient Near East, soldiers could profit well in battle. David gathered a great trove of spoils from the Amalekites (1 Samuel 30:20).
When the promise of riches doesn't stop Asahel, Abner shares what is probably his real concern: he doesn't want to cause injury to Asahel's brother Joab. He would be ashamed to look Joab in the face. Sadly, that doesn't stop Asahel. He keeps coming, and Abner stabs him in the stomach. He seems to do this while facing away, as Asahel gets close. The back end of Israelite spears were probably pointed—but not as sharp as the front—so they could be stuck into the ground (2 Samuel 26:7). Between Abner's strength and Asahel's rapid approach, the spear butt comes out Asahel's back (2 Samuel 2:22–23). What might have been a one-off battle is now a civil war of revenge.
