13Joab the son of Zeruiah also went out with David's servants and met at the pool of Gibeon, and they sat on one side of the pool, and these on the other side of the pool.

14Then Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men stand up and play before us." And Joab said, Let them arise.

15Twelve Benjamites arose and went to the number of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of David's servants.

16They grabbed each other by the head, thrust their swords into each other's side, and fell down together. And the place was called Helkath-hatzurim in Gibeon.

17On that day there was a fierce battle, and Abner and the men of Israel were struck down by David's servants.

18And there were three sons of Zeruiah: Joab, Abishaisha, and Asahel. Asahel was light on his feet, like a chamois in the field.

19And Asahel pursued Abner and pursued him, avoiding neither to the right nor to the left the tracks of Abner.

20Then Abner looked back and said, "Is this you, Asael?" He said, "I."

21Then Abner said to him, "Turn to the right hand or to the left, and choose for yourself one of the youths and take his arms." But Asahel would not leave him.

22Abner said again to Asael, "Leave me alone, lest I throw you to the ground. then with what face shall I come to Joab thy brother?

23[And where does it happen? return to your brother Joab.] But he did not want to lag behind. Then Abner, turning his spear, struck him in the stomach; the spear went through him, and he fell there and died on the spot. All those who passed through the place where Asahel fell and died stopped.

24And Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. The sun had gone down when they came to the hill of Amma, which is opposite Giach, on the road to the wilderness of Gibeon.

25So the Benjamites gathered around Abner, and formed one army, and stood on the top of a certain hill.

26Abner called to Joab and said, "Shall he devour the sword forever?" Or don't you know that the consequences will be sorrowful? And how long wilt thou not tell men to cease persecuting their brethren?