14. And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise and have a contest before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
15. Then there arose and went over by number–twelve of Benjamin who were with Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
16. And each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his side; so they all fell together. Therefore that place was called the Field of Sharp Knives, which is at Gibeon.
17. A very fierce battle followed, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.
18. Three sons of Zeruiah [the half sister of David] were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe or antelope.
19. Asahel pursued Abner, and as he ran he turned not to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.