2 Samuel 2:18
New International Version
The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle.

New Living Translation
Joab, Abishai, and Asahel—the three sons of Zeruiah—were among David’s forces that day. Asahel could run like a gazelle,

English Standard Version
And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as swift of foot as a wild gazelle.

Berean Standard Bible
The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,

King James Bible
And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

New King James Version
Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was as fleet of foot as a wild gazelle.

New American Standard Bible
Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel; and Asahel was as swift-footed as one of the gazelles that is in the field.

NASB 1995
Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel; and Asahel was as swift-footed as one of the gazelles which is in the field.

NASB 1977
Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel; and Asahel was as swift-footed as one of the gazelles which is in the field.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel; and Asahel was as swift-footed as one of the gazelles which is in the field.

Amplified Bible
Three sons of Zeruiah [the half sister of David] were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as light and swift-footed as one of the [wild] gazelles in the field.

Christian Standard Bible
The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was a fast runner, like one of the wild gazelles.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was a fast runner, like one of the wild gazelles.

American Standard Version
And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

Contemporary English Version
Zeruiah's three sons were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel could run as fast as a deer in an open field,

English Revised Version
And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Zeruiah's three sons were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as fast on his feet as a wild gazelle.

Good News Translation
The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel, who could run as fast as a wild deer,

International Standard Version
Zeruiah's three sons Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were there. As a runner, Asahel was fast, like one of the wild gazelles.

Majority Standard Bible
The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,

NET Bible
The three sons of Zeruiah were there--Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. (Now Asahel was as quick on his feet as one of the gazelles in the field.)

New Heart English Bible
The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel. And Asahel was as quick on his feet as a wild gazelle.

Webster's Bible Translation
And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

World English Bible
The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And there are three sons of Zeruiah there: Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel; and Asahel [is] light on his feet, as one of the roes which [are] in the field,

Young's Literal Translation
And there are there three sons of Zeruiah, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel, and Asahel is light on his feet, as one of the roes which are in the field,

Smith's Literal Translation
And there will be there three sons of Zeruiah, Joab and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was swift in his feet as one of the roes which are in the field.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And there were the three sons of Sarvia there, Joab, and Abisai, and Asael: now Asael was a most swift runner, like one of the roes that abide in the woods.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now the three sons of Zeruiah were in that place: Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel. And Asahel was a very swift runner, like one of the deer that lives in the forest.

New American Bible
The three sons of Zeruiah were there—Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel, who was as fleet of foot as a gazelle in the open field,

New Revised Standard Version
The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as swift of foot as a wild gazelle.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And there were three sons of Zoriah there, Joab, Abishai, and Ashael; and Ashael was as swift of foot as a desert gazelle.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And there were three sons of Tsuria: “Yuab and Abishai and Shayel, and Shayel was fast on his feet, as one of the deer that is in the wilderness
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel; and Asahel was as light of foot as one of the roes that are in the field.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And there were there the three sons of Saruia, Joab, and Abessa, and Asael: and Asael was swift in his feet as a roe in the field.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
War Between the Houses of David and Saul
17The battle that day was intense, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David. 18The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle, 19and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit.…

Cross References
1 Chronicles 12:8
Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the wilderness. They were mighty men of valor, trained for battle, experts with the shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were as swift as gazelles on the mountains:

1 Samuel 14:50-52
His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner. / Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel. / And the war with the Philistines was fierce for all the days of Saul. So whenever he noticed any strong or brave man, Saul would enlist him.

1 Samuel 17:13
The three older sons of Jesse had followed Saul into battle: The firstborn was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah.

1 Chronicles 2:16
Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.

1 Samuel 26:6
And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered Abishai.

1 Samuel 17:55-58
As Saul had watched David going out to confront the Philistine, he said to Abner the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” “As surely as you live, O king,” Abner replied, “I do not know.” / “Find out whose son this young man is!” said the king. / So when David returned from killing the Philistine, still holding his head in his hand, Abner took him and brought him before Saul. ...

1 Samuel 16:10-11
Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel told him, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.” / And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”

1 Samuel 17:34-36
David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, / I went after it, struck it down, and delivered the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. / Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”

1 Samuel 18:2
And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house.

1 Samuel 20:25
He sat in his usual place by the wall, opposite Jonathan and beside Abner, but David’s place was empty.

1 Samuel 22:1-2
So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. / And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

1 Samuel 23:13
Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth.

1 Samuel 25:13
And David said to his men, “Strap on your swords!” So David and all his men strapped on their swords, and about four hundred men followed David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.

1 Samuel 30:9
So David and his six hundred men went to the Brook of Besor, where some stayed behind

1 Samuel 30:23
But David said, “My brothers, you must not do this with what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiders who came against us.


Treasury of Scripture

And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

three

1 Chronicles 2:15,16
Ozem the sixth, David the seventh: …

1 Chronicles 11:26
Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

was as light

2 Samuel 1:23
Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

1 Chronicles 12:8
And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;

Psalm 147:10,11
He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man…

foot [heb] his feet

Psalm 18:33
He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

Song of Solomon 2:17
Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.

Song of Solomon 8:14
Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.

2 Samuel 15:22
And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.

Jump to Previous
Abishai Abi'shai Asahel As'ahel Field Fields Fleet-Footed Foot Gazelle Gazelles Joab Jo'ab Light Quick-Footed Roe Roes Swift Three Wild Zeruiah Zeru'iah
Jump to Next
Abishai Abi'shai Asahel As'ahel Field Fields Fleet-Footed Foot Gazelle Gazelles Joab Jo'ab Light Quick-Footed Roe Roes Swift Three Wild Zeruiah Zeru'iah
2 Samuel 2
1. David, by God's direction, with his company goes up to Hebron
4. where he is made king of Judah
5. He commends them of Jabesh Gilead for their king of Israel
8. Abner makes Ishbosheth king of Israel
12. A mortal skirmish between twelve of Abner's and twelve of Joab's men.
18. Asahel is slain
25. At Abner's motion, Joab sounds a retreat
32. Asahel's burial














The three sons of Zeruiah
This phrase introduces us to the prominent figures in David's military leadership. Zeruiah, though not as frequently mentioned as her sons, is a significant matriarchal figure. In the Hebrew context, naming the mother instead of the father is unusual, highlighting her importance. Zeruiah was David's sister, making her sons David's nephews. This familial connection underscores the close-knit nature of David's early supporters and the tribal dynamics of ancient Israel.

were there
This phrase situates the sons of Zeruiah in the context of the ongoing conflict between the house of Saul and the house of David. The Hebrew word used here can imply presence and readiness, indicating their active involvement in the events unfolding. Historically, this period was marked by civil strife as David consolidated his rule over Israel, and the presence of these warriors signifies their loyalty and crucial role in David's rise to power.

Joab
Joab is the most prominent of Zeruiah's sons, known for his military prowess and sometimes ruthless tactics. His name in Hebrew means "Yahweh is father," which may reflect the religious consciousness of the time. Joab's leadership and strategic mind were instrumental in many of David's victories, but his actions often raised ethical questions, providing a complex character study in loyalty and morality.

Abishai
Abishai, whose name means "my father is Jesse," was a fierce warrior and loyal supporter of David. He is often seen as a secondary leader to Joab, yet his bravery and dedication are evident throughout the biblical narrative. Abishai's role in various military campaigns highlights the importance of family alliances and the valorization of martial skill in ancient Israelite society.

Asahel
Asahel, the youngest of the three, is noted for his speed and agility. His name means "God has made," suggesting a divine favor or purpose. Asahel's swiftness is a key attribute in the narrative, symbolizing youthful vigor and the potential for greatness. His tragic death later in the chapter serves as a poignant reminder of the costs of war and the personal losses endured by David's followers.

was as fleet of foot as a wild gazelle
This simile emphasizes Asahel's exceptional speed and agility, likening him to a gazelle, an animal known for its grace and swiftness. In the ancient Near Eastern context, such comparisons were common to convey physical prowess. The imagery evokes a sense of admiration and sets the stage for the dramatic events that follow, where Asahel's speed becomes both his strength and his vulnerability. This phrase also reflects the biblical theme of the fleeting nature of life and the pursuit of glory, resonating with the broader narrative of human ambition and divine providence.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The three
שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ (šə·lō·šāh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

sons
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Zeruiah
צְרוּיָ֔ה (ṣə·rū·yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6870: Zeruiah -- an Israelite woman

were
וַיִּֽהְיוּ־ (way·yih·yū-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

there:
שָׁ֗ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

Joab,
יוֹאָ֥ב (yō·w·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3097: Joab -- 'the LORD is father', three Israelites

Abishai,
וַאֲבִישַׁ֖י (wa·’ă·ḇî·šay)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 52: Abishai -- 'my father is Jesse', an Israelite name

and Asahel.
וַעֲשָׂהאֵ֑ל (wa·‘ă·śā·h·’êl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6214: Asahel -- 'God has made', four Israelites

Now Asahel
וַעֲשָׂהאֵל֙ (wa·‘ă·śā·h·’êl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6214: Asahel -- 'God has made', four Israelites

[was] fleet
קַ֣ל (qal)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7031: Light, swift, fleet

of foot
בְּרַגְלָ֔יו (bə·raḡ·lāw)
Preposition-b | Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7272: A foot, a step, the pudenda

like a
כְּאַחַ֥ד (kə·’a·ḥaḏ)
Preposition-k | Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 259: United, one, first

wild
בַּשָּׂדֶֽה׃ (baś·śā·ḏeh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

gazelle,
הַצְּבָיִ֖ם (haṣ·ṣə·ḇā·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6643: Splendor, a gazelle


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OT History: 2 Samuel 2:18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 2:17
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