2 Samuel 2:19
in 2 Samuel 2and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
KJV
And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
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This verse in 2 Samuel 2
Commentary
5 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Asahel pursued after Abner--To gain the general's armor was deemed the grandest trophy. Asahel, ambitious of securing Abner's, had outstripped all other pursuers, and was fast gaining on the retreating commander. Abner, conscious of possessing more physical power, and unwilling that there should be "blood" between himself and Joab, Asahel's brother, twice urged him to desist.
This site's exposition
Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle
on 2 Samuel 2:18-19
Asahel alone is singled out as “fleet of foot like a wild gazelle”. He fixes on Abner, “not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit”. The same speed that lets him catch a fleeing general carries him past every warning the following verses will give him.
This site's exposition
he chased Abner
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown note that the armor of the commander was the greatest trophy of a battle. Asahel wanted the equipment of Abner, and he had outrun every man in the pursuit. Matthew Henry calls the aim brave and too great for him.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The design was brave, had he been par negotio--equal to its accomplishment: but let not the swift man glory in his swiftness, any more than the strong man in his strength; magnis excidit ausis--he perished in an attempt too vast for him. How generous Abner was in giving him notice of the danger he exposed himself to, and advising him not to meddle to his own hurt, 2 Chron. xxv.
And Asahel pursued after Abner,....
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּרְדֹּ֥ף | vaiyirdof | and he pursued | H7291 → | 143 times |
| עֲשָׂהאֵ֖ל | ʾasahel | Asahel | H6214 → | 24 times |
| אַחֲרֵ֣י | ʾacharei | after | H310 → | 715 times |
| אַבְנֵ֑ר | ʾavner | Abner | H74 → | 63 times |
| וְלֹֽא־ | velo'- | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| נָטָ֣ה | natah | he turned aside | H5186 → | 214 times |
| לָלֶ֗כֶת | lalekhet | to go | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | to | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| הַיָּמִין֙ | haiyamin | the right | H3225 → | 140 times |
| וְעַֽל־ | veal- | and to | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| הַשְּׂמֹ֔אול | hasemol | the left | H8040 → | 54 times |
| מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י | meacharei | from after | H310 → | 715 times |
| אַבְנֵֽר׃ | ʾavner | Abner | H74 → | 63 times |
וַיִּרְדֹּ֥ףand he pursued
vaiyirdofH7291 →143 times
עֲשָׂהאֵ֖לAsahel
ʾasahelH6214 →24 times
אַחֲרֵ֣יafter
ʾachareiH310 →715 times
אַבְנֵ֑רAbner
ʾavnerH74 →63 times
וְלֹֽא־and not
velo'-H3808 →5168 times
נָטָ֣הhe turned aside
natahH5186 →214 times
לָלֶ֗כֶתto go
lalekhetH1980 →1546 times
עַל־to
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
הַיָּמִין֙the right
haiyaminH3225 →140 times
וְעַֽל־and to
veal-H5921 →5755 times
הַשְּׂמֹ֔אולthe left
hasemolH8040 →54 times
מֵאַחֲרֵ֖יfrom after
meachareiH310 →715 times
אַבְנֵֽר׃Abner
ʾavnerH74 →63 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Joshua 1:7Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that…
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 5:32
So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or to the left.
Reached by 4 separate paths from here.
- 1 Chronicles 22:13
Then you will succeed, if you carefully follow the statutes and ordinances that the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.
- Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper…
- Proverbs 4:27
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
- Joshua 11:15
As the LORD had commanded His servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua. That is what Joshua did, leaving nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.
- Deuteronomy 5:32
Through
Proverbs 4:27Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
it leads to
- Joshua 1:7
Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Deuteronomy 28:14
Do not turn aside to the right or to the left from any of the words I command you today, and do not go after other gods to serve them.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 16:17
The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.
- Joshua 1:7
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 2 Samuel
This page draws on Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.