2 Samuel 2:22-32 ▼

22 Once again, Abner (my father is a lamp) warned Asahel (God-made), “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I show my face to your brother Joab (YHWH is father)?”

23 But Asahel refused to turn away. So Abner (my father is a lamp) thrust the butt of his spear into his stomach, and it came out his back, and he fell dead on the spot. And every man paused when he came to the place where Asahel (God-made) had fallen and died.

24 But Joab (YHWH is father) and Abishai (my father is a gift) pursued Abner (my father is a lamp). By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah (a cubit) opposite Giah (to break forth) on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon (hill city).

25 The Benjamites (son of the right hand) rallied to Abner (my father is a lamp), formed a single unit, and took their stand atop a hill.

26 Then Abner (my father is a lamp) called out to Joab (YHWH is father): “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?”

27 “As surely as God {Elohim} lives,” Joab (YHWH is father) replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.”

28 So Joab (YHWH is father) blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel (he wrestles with God) or continued to fight.

29 And all that night Abner (my father is a lamp) and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan (flowing down), marched all morning [marched all through Bithron], and arrived at Mahanaim (two camps).

30 When Joab (YHWH is father) returned from pursuing Abner (my father is a lamp), he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel (God-made), nineteen of David’s (beloved) servants were missing,

31 but they (beloved) had struck down 360 Benjamites (son of the right hand) who were with Abner (my father is a lamp).

32 And they took Asahel (God-made) and buried him in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem (house of bread). Then Joab (YHWH is father) and his men marched all night and reached Hebron (association) at daybreak.