What does 2 Samuel 2:22 mean?
“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?” — 2 Samuel 2:22
The Bible verse 2 Samuel 2:22 from the King James Version (KJV) states, "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?" This verse comes from a larger passage in the book of 2 Samuel, which details the civil war that broke out in Israel after the death of King Saul. The verse is part of a conversation between Abner, the commander of Saul's army, and Asahel, the brother of Joab, the commander of David's army.
In this particular verse, we see Abner warning Asahel to stop pursuing him, as he does not want to harm him. He questions Asahel's reasons for following him and asks how he could face Joab, Asahel's brother and his own rival, if he were to harm him. This verse captures the tension and conflict between the two rival factions within Israel, as well as the complexities of family relationships and loyalties in the midst of war.
The themes present in this verse include the idea of conflict and war, as well as the complexities of loyalty and family ties. The larger context of this passage in the book of 2 Samuel is the struggle for power and unity within Israel following the death of King Saul. After Saul's death, David is anointed as king over the tribe of Judah, while Saul's son, Ish-bosheth, is made king over the rest of Israel by Abner. This sets the stage for a power struggle between the two factions, which ultimately leads to a prolonged civil war.
The verse also speaks to the idea of honor and respect in the midst of conflict. Abner, despite being a rival of Joab and David, demonstrates a sense of honor and restraint by warning Asahel and attempting to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. This highlights the moral complexities of war and the humanity of the individuals involved, even in the midst of violent conflict.
The symbolism in this verse can be seen in the characters themselves. Abner represents the established authority and the faction loyal to Saul, while Asahel and Joab represent the upstart faction loyal to David. The conflict between these characters symbolizes the larger struggle for power and control within Israel. Additionally, the familial relationship between Asahel and Joab adds another layer of complexity to the conflict, highlighting the personal and emotional toll of war.
Overall, this verse from 2 Samuel 2:22 captures the tension and complexity of the civil war in Israel, as well as the themes of conflict, loyalty, and honor. It serves as a powerful example of the moral and emotional complexities of war, as well as the timeless struggles for power and unity within human societies.
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Artwork for 2 Samuel 2:22
2 Samuel 2:22 - "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?"
"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?" - 2 Samuel 2:22
2 Samuel 2:2 - "So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite."
2 Samuel 22:2 - "And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;"
2 Samuel 24:22
2 Samuel 24:22
2 Samuel 24:22
2 Samuel 22:17-20
2 Samuel 6:14–22
2 Samuel 22:22 - "For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God."
2 Samuel 22:19 - "They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay."
2 Samuel 22:48 - "It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,"
2 Samuel 22:13 - "Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled."
2 Samuel 22:46 - "Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places."
2 Samuel 22:42 - "They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not."
2 Samuel 22:33 - "God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect."
2 Samuel 22:6 - "The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;"
2 Samuel 22:15 - "And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them."
2 Samuel 22:32 - "For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?"
2 Samuel 5:22 - "¶ And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim."
2 Samuel 22:14 - "The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice."
2 Samuel 22:47 - "The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation."
2 Samuel 22:29 - "For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness."
2 Samuel 22:10 - "He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet."
2 Samuel 22:8 - "Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was 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 11:22 - "¶ So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for."
2 Samuel 22:24 - "I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity."
2 Samuel 22:11 - "And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind."
2 Samuel 23:22 - "These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men."