What does 2 Samuel 2:21 mean?
"And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him." - 2 Samuel 2:21
The verse 2 Samuel 2:21 from the King James Version of the Bible reads: "And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him."
This verse comes from the Book of 2 Samuel in the Old Testament, which is the second part of the narrative of the Israelite monarchy. The verse is part of a larger passage that describes a conflict between the forces of David, the newly anointed king of Judah, and the forces of Ish-Bosheth, the son of Saul, who was being proclaimed king by the other tribes of Israel.
In this particular verse, Abner, the commander of Ish-Bosheth's army, is speaking to Asahel, the brother of Joab who was a commander in David's army. Asahel is pursuing Abner, seeking vengeance for the death of his brother, and Abner is warning him to back off and cease his pursuit. Abner offers Asahel the opportunity to choose any other soldier to attack and take their armor, but Asahel refuses and persists in his pursuit of Abner. This pursuit ultimately leads to Asahel's death at the hands of Abner.
This verse can be interpreted in several ways, and there are a number of themes and symbols at play. One of the central themes of this verse is the idea of persistence and determination. Asahel's refusal to turn aside from his pursuit of Abner demonstrates his single-minded focus on achieving his goal. However, this determination ultimately leads to his downfall, as he ends up being killed by Abner. This can be seen as a cautionary tale about the consequences of blind determination and the need for discernment and wisdom in one's actions.
Another theme present in this verse is the idea of honor and vengeance. Asahel's pursuit of Abner is motivated by a desire for vengeance for his brother's death. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, honor and vengeance were deeply intertwined, and seeking retribution for the death of a family member was considered not only a personal duty but also a way to preserve the family's honor. However, this pursuit of vengeance ultimately leads to further bloodshed and the escalation of conflict between the two sides.
The verse also contains symbolism related to the broader narrative of the Book of 2 Samuel. The conflict between David and Ish-Bosheth, and the internal strife within Israel as different factions vie for power, reflects the larger theme of the struggle for kingship and the establishment of a unified monarchy in Israel. Asahel's death at the hands of Abner serves as a microcosm of the larger conflicts and the high cost of the struggle for power and dominance.
Overall, 2 Samuel 2:21 presents a complex and multi-layered narrative that touches on themes of determination, vengeance, honor, and the consequences of conflict. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of blind determination and the high cost of pursuing vengeance without wisdom and discernment. In the broader context of the Book of 2 Samuel, it also serves as a reflection of the larger thematic concerns of the struggle for power and the establishment of a unified monarchy in Israel.
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2 Samuel 2:21 - "And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him."
"And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him." - 2 Samuel 2:21
2 samuel 23:8-21
2 Samuel 21:21 - "And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him."
2 Samuel 5:21 - "And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them."
2 Samuel 21:11 - "And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done."
1 Samuel 2:21 - "And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD."
2 Samuel 13:21 - "¶ But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth."
2 Samuel 21:22 - "These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants."
2 Samuel 22:21 - "The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me."
2 Samuel 19:21 - "But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?"
2 Samuel 21:18 - "And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant."
2 Samuel 21:13 - "And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged."
2 Samuel 21:7 - "But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul."
2 Samuel 21:5 - "And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,"
2 Samuel 21:2 - "And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)"
2 Samuel 18:21 - "Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran."
2 Samuel 14:21 - "¶ And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again."
"And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them." - 2 Samuel 5:21
2 Samuel 7:21 - "For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them."
"And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him." - 2 Samuel 21:21
2 Samuel 21:15 - "¶ Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint."
2 Samuel 21:1 - "Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites."
2 Samuel 21:14 - "And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land."
2 Samuel 21:3 - "Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?"
2 Samuel 2:1 - "And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron."
2 Samuel 21:19 - "And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Beth-lehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam."
"¶ But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth." - 2 Samuel 13:21
"And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done." - 2 Samuel 21:11
2 Samuel 21:20 - "And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant."