2:20 Then Abner turned and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?” He replied, “Yes it is!” 2:21 Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right or to your left. Capture one of the soldiers 1 and take his equipment for yourself!” But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him. 2:22 So Abner spoke again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me! I do not want to strike you to the ground. 2 How then could I show 3 my face in the presence of Joab your brother?” 2:23 But Asahel 4 refused to turn aside. So Abner struck him in the abdomen with the back end of his 5 spear. The spear came out his back; Asahel 6 collapsed on the spot and died there right before Abner. 7 Everyone who now comes to the place where Asahel fell dead pauses in respect. 8
1 tn Heb “young men.” So also elsewhere.
2 tn Heb “Why should I strike you to the ground?”
3 tn Heb “lift.”
4 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Asahel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
5 tn Heb “the.” The article functions here as a possessive pronoun.
6 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Asahel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 tn Heb “him”; the referent (Abner) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
8 tn Heb “and they stand.”