2 Samuel 2:19

19 So Asahel pursued Abner, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left from going after Abner.

2 Samuel 2:19 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 2:19

And Asahel pursued after Abner
Ambitious of the glory of taking or slaying the general of the army of Israel; trusting to his swiftness, not considering that the race is not always to the swift, and that he had to do with a veteran soldier, and he a raw young man, though valiant:

and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left in
following Abner;
he kept his eye upon him, and pursued him closely, disregarding persons on the right or left he could have made prisoners; but those he neglected, being bent on taking Abner if possible.

2 Samuel 2:19 In-Context

17 Then the battle {became increasingly fierce} on that day, and Abner and the men of Israel [were] defeated before the servants of David.

18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel [was] swift with his feet as one of the gazelles which [is] in the open field.

19 So Asahel pursued Abner, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left from going after Abner.

20 Abner turned around and said, "[Are] you this Asahel?" And he said, "Yes."

21 Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right or to your left; seize for yourself one of the young men, and take his belongings for yourself." But Asahel [was] not willing to turn aside from him.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew "pursued after"