complete verse (2 Samuel 2:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 2:23:

  • Kupsabiny: “But Asahel continued chasing Abner. Then, Abner pierced Asahel in the stomach with the end of his spear passing through the back. (Then) Asahel fell down and died. Everyone who was passing by stopped where Asahel had been killed to see the dead body.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “But when Asahel would not agree to go to either side। So Abner pierced his stomach with a spear handle and the spear pierced through his back. He fell on the road and died. After reached the place where Asahel had fallen and died, every man stopped.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But Asahel did- not ever -stop chasing him, so Abner stabbed him on the belly/stomach with the head of (his) spear, and it came-out-through his back. He fell-down and die right-away/(on the spot). The people who could-pass-by there in the place where Asahel was-killed stop/(stood-still).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But Asahel refused to stop pursuing Abner. So Abner suddenly turned and thrust the butt end of his spear into Asahel’s stomach. Because he thrust it very strongly, that end of the spear went though Asahel’s body and came out at his back, and he fell to the ground, dead. All the other soldiers who came to the place where his body was lying stopped and stood there, stunned.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 2:23

But: the conjunction here introduces a contrast between Abner’s request in the previous verse and Asahel’s response which follows. While many versions use the conjunction But, as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, others insert the word “still” into the sentence (Revised English Bible, New American Bible). Since verse 24 also begins with “But,” this may be the preferred solution here.

Smote him in the belly with the butt of his spear: as shown by the notes in several English versions, the Hebrew at this point is unclear. Both Good News Translation and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh speak of a “backward thrust,” but it is uncertain just what this means. Perhaps Abner was trying to cripple Asahel (without actually killing him) by using the blunt end of his spear. But the text indicates that the spear went completely through his stomach and killed him immediately. The butt of a spear was often pointed for sticking it into the ground.

The word translated belly occurs only here and in 3.27; 4.6; 20.10. It is nearly always translated as “stomach” (New Revised Standard Version), “abdomen” (New American Bible), or belly. The Hebrew word is exactly the same as the word for “fifth.” Fox therefore translates this as “in the fifth (rib),” meaning that the spear went through Asahel’s body where the fifth rib is located. On the left side of the body, this is where the heart is located.

Stood still: in some languages it may be advisable to state clearly the reason that everyone came to a halt on seeing the body of Asahel. Was it because of the manner in which he died? Or was it simply the fact that Joab’s brother had been killed? Probably the other soldiers were stunned by what had happened. Compare 20.12.

It is possible, though not likely, that the last sentence in this verse refers not to events on the day of battle but rather to a custom that was observed by Israelites in later generations (so Hertzberg). If, however, one accepts this interpretation, then it will be incorrect to say, as Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente does, that “all the other soldiers stopped.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .