About
Asahel was King David’s nephew and Joab and Abishai’s brother (1 Chronicles 2:16). He was one of David’s Mighty Men (2 Samuel 23:24, 1 Chronicles 11:26). He also commanded a division of 24,000 men (1 Chronicles 27:7) that rotated in support of David on a monthly basis.
Backstory
Asahel’s defining characteristic was his speed. 2 Samuel 2:18 records that he was “as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle.”
After Saul’s defeat, the commanders of the House of Saul (Abner and the Israelites) and the House of David staged competitions between their men. As recounted in 2 Samuel 2, one day the battle was particularly fierce and David’s men defeated Abner and the Israelites.
This victory was not enough for Asahel. he chased Abner down, even though he wasn’t wearing any armor. Abner urged him to stop for his own safety, but Asahel continued. When Asahel caught up to Abner, he turned around and thrust a sword under his rib, in self-defense.
The effect on Joab’s men was parálisis. They all stopped where Asahel had been struck down. But Joab and Abishai kept pursuing Abner. This galvanized Abner’s men, who rallied along side him on a hill.
Abner called for a truce, to which Joab agreed. Yet the war between the men on both sides continued for several years. Eventually, Abner defected to David’s side. Later, Joab and Abishai avenged Asahel’s death by killing Abner, to David’s horror.