David's compatriot living at the time of United Monarchy
Asahel, son of Zeruiah and brother of Joab, was a fast runner killed by Abner during a battle (2Sam 2; 3:27, 30; 23:24; 1Ch.2.16; 11:26; 27:7).
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Asahel was the youngest son of Zeruiah, David's sister, and the brother of Joab and Abishai. He was known for his speed and agility, being described as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle. During the battle between the forces of David and Ish-Bosheth at Gibeon, Asahel pursued Abner, the commander of Ish-Bosheth's army. Despite Abner's warnings to turn aside, Asahel refused, and Abner killed him with the butt of his spear. Joab and Abishai later avenged their brother's death by murdering Abner when he came to support David. Asahel was one of David's mighty men and was placed in charge of a division in David's army.
Part of: Kings, prophets and the house of David
Abner killed Joab's brother Asahel in battle while retreating. When Abner came to make peace with David, Joab and Abishai murdered him at Hebron. David publicly cursed Joab's house and mourned Abner.
Sources: 2 Sam 2:18-23 · 2 Sam 3:26-30 · 2 Sam 3:31-39
The three sons of David's sister Zeruiah were David's nephews and among his chief commanders, yet Joab's ruthlessness repeatedly embarrassed David; David said "these sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me".
Sources: 1 Chr 2:15-16 · 2 Sam 3:39 · 2 Sam 18:14
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Made by God, the youngest son of Zeruiah, David’s sister. He was celebrated for his swiftness of foot. When fighting against Ish-bosheth at Gibeon, in the army of his brother Joab, he was put to death by Abner, whom he pursued from the field of battle (2 Sam. 2:18, 19). He is mentioned among David’s thirty mighty men (2 Sam. 23:24; 1 Chr. 11:26). Others of the same name are mentioned (2 Chr. 17:8; 31:13; Ezra 10:15).
AS'AHEL (whom God made). 1.David's nephew, Joab's brother, noted for swiftness of foot; one of David's thirty heroes; killed by Abner at the battle of Gideon. 2 Sam 2:18ff.; 1 Chr 11:26; 1 Chr 27:7. A Levite. 2 Chr 17:8. Another Levite. 2 Chr 31:13. The father of one in Ezra's employ. Ezr 10:15.
AS'AHEL (whom God made). 1.David's nephew, Joab's brother, noted for swiftness of foot; one of David's thirty heroes; killed by Abner at the battle of Gideon. 2 Sam 2:18ff.; 1 Chr 11:26; 1 Chr 27:7. A Levite. 2 Chr 17:8. Another Levite. 2 Chr 31:13. The father of one in Ezra's employ. Ezr 10:15.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
14 verses in 2 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H6214
The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,
and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit.
And Abner glanced back and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” “It is,” Asahel replied.
So Abner told him, “Turn to your right or to your left, seize one of the young men, and take his equipment for yourself.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.
Once again, Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?”
But Asahel refused to turn away. So Abner thrust the butt of his spear into his stomach, and it came out his back, and he fell dead on the spot. And every man paused when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.
When Joab returned from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel, nineteen of Davidʼs servants were missing,
And they took Asahel and buried him in his fatherʼs tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.
When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joabʼs brother Asahel.
(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)
Now these were members of the Thirty: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.
Now these were the mighty men: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
The fourth, for the fourth month, was Joabʼs brother Asahel, and his son Zebadiah was commander after him. There were 24,000 men in his division.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.