14. Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have the young men get up and have a contest here.”Joab said, “Yes, let them have a contest.”
15. Then the young men got up. The two groups counted their men for the contest. Twelve men were chosen from the people of Benjamin for Ish-Bosheth son of Saul. Twelve men were chosen from David’s men.
16. Each man grabbed his enemy’s head. Then he stabbed his enemy’s side with a knife. And the men fell down together. So that place in Gibeon is called The Field of the Sharp Knives.
17. That day the contest became a terrible battle. And David’s men defeated Abner and the Israelites.
18. Zeruiah’s three sons, Joab, Abishai and Asahel, were there. Now Asahel was a fast runner. He was as fast as a deer in the field.
19. Asahel chased Abner, going straight toward him.
20. Abner looked back and asked, “Are you Asahel?”Asahel said, “Yes, I am.”