2 Samuel 2:22 Meaning and Explanation
“And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Abner warns Asahel a third time, asking how he could face Joab if he were forced to kill him.
What Does 2 Samuel 2:22 Mean?
Abner makes a final appeal, urging Asahel once more to turn aside. His words betray real anguish, why should he be forced to strike Asahel down, and how could he then look Joab, Asahel's brother, in the face? He foresees the bloodshed and the feud it will surely bring, and he wants no part of it.
Three times mercy has spoken, and three times it has been refused. Abner's question about facing Joab shows he understands the long shadow this death will cast over the families involved. The verse is a study in the patience of warning and the weight of choices that ripple outward to kindred. Grace can plead, but it will not compel; the will that spurns every appeal bears the harvest of its own refusal.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 2:22
What does 2 Samuel 2:22 mean?
Abner warns Asahel a third time, asking how he could face Joab if he were forced to kill him.