The Price of Vanity

The commander of David’s forces, Joab, has two brothers who fight alongside him. All of them are nephews of David, being sons of his sister Zeruiah (1 Chron. 2:13–16). The youngest, Asahel, is apparently quite eager for military glory, though he already is counted among David’s “mighty men” (2 Sam. 23:24). Thus, when David’s army routs Abner’s forces, Asahel begins to pursue the fleeing Abner. He pays no heed to any other enemy soldier, for he wants to be the one to bring down the commander. And because Asahel is “fleet of foot as a wild gazelle,” he soon begins to close in on his quarry.

Abner, however, is apparently unharmed, and his strength and experience are more than a match for Asahel’s speed and zeal. He warns Asahel to take on a soldier more equal to himself in experience. When Asahel continues to pursue, Abner warns him more pointedly, saying he doesn’t want to harm him out of respect for his brother Joab. But Asahel still will not heed the warning. So Abner strikes Asahel with a surprise move, thrusting the butt end of his spear backward so that it pierces Asahel’s body. Mortally wounded, he falls and dies on the spot.

The shocking sight of Asahel’s corpse is enough to stop others who consider pursuing Abner. But Joab and his other brother, Abishai, press on after him. They see themselves as “avengers of blood” (Num. 35:9–28), despite the fact that Asahel fell in combat. Finally, about sunset, Abner manages to gather others of his men who are fleeing, and they take a stand on a hill. From there he shouts to Joab: ” ‘shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the latter end?’ ” He is warning of the dangers of vendettas and of civil war, and so he asks for an end to this pursuit of Israelites by Israelites. Joab acquiesces to this request and calls off the pursuit, perhaps because he knows of David’s aversion to the killing of God’s people. But he pointedly reminds Abner that none of this would have happened if he had not spoken his challenge in the morning.

The two armies then part, marching through the night to reach their respective headquarters. But Joab’s army first lays Asahel to rest in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem. It is a terrible day for Joab and his brother Abishai, and they do not forget Abner’s role in it.