15. So twelve men, representing Ishbosheth and the tribe of Benjamin, fought twelve of David's men.
16. Each man caught his opponent by the head and plunged his sword into his opponent's side, so that all 24 of them fell down dead together. And so that place in Gibeon is called “Field of Swords”.
17. Then a furious battle broke out, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated by David's men.
18. The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel, who could run as fast as a wild deer,
19. started chasing Abner, running straight for him.
20. Abner looked back and said, “Is that you, Asahel?”“Yes,” he answered.
21. “Stop chasing me!” Abner said. “Run after one of the soldiers and take what he has.” But Asahel kept on chasing him.
22. Once more Abner said to him, “Stop chasing me! Why force me to kill you? How could I face your brother Joab?”
23. But Asahel would not give up; so Abner, with a backward thrust of his spear, struck him through the belly so that the spear came out at his back. Asahel dropped to the ground dead, and everyone who came to the place where he was lying stopped and stood there.