2 Samuel 2:22-32 ▼

22 And Abner spoke again to Ashael, to turn from following him, saying, Turn from following me, lest I smite you and throw you on the ground; how then could I lift up my face and look at Joab your brother.

23 But he refused to turn; therefore Abner smote him with the end of the spear upon his breast, and the spear came out at his back; and he fell down there and died in the same place; and all who came to the place where Ashael fell down and died stood still.

24 Then Joab and Abishai arose and pursued Abner; and the sun went down when they came to lake Giboath which lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

25 And the Benjamites gathered themselves together behind Abner, and became one company, and stood on the top of a hill.

26 Then Abner called to Joab and said, Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that there will be bitterness in the end? How long will it be then before you bid the people return from following their brethren?

27 And Joab said, As the LORD lives, unless you had spoken, surely in the morning I would have let the people give up every one from pursuing his brother.

28 So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the people stood still and pursued Israel no more, neither did they fight any more.

29 And Abner and his men walked all that night in the desert, and crossed the Jordan, and went toward Geshur, and they came to Mahanaim.

30 And Joab returned from following Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together and they were numbered, there were twelve wounded of David's men, and Ashael was dead.

31 But the men of David had slain of Benjamin and of Abner, three hundred and sixty men.

32 And they took Ashael and buried him in the sepulchre of his father in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men marched all night, and the day dawned upon them at Hebron.