2 Samuel 2:22 (KJV)

Words Then and Now

wherefore why; therefore Still heard today: the whys and wherefores, the reasons Webster’s 1828 · Wherefore

What these words mean in the King James Bible, and where you’ll still hear them today.

Thou and Ye

thee, thy one person

In the King James Bible, thee, thou, thy, and thine always mean one person, and ye, you, and your more than one: a difference modern English lost. Why keep these words?

Matthew Henry

Asahel slain by Abner: 25-32. Both parties retreatDeath often comes by ways we least suspect. We are often betrayed by the accomplishments we are proud of! Asahel's swiftness, which he presumed so much upon,...

Thompson Chains

WarningsSee the chain from Genesis 19:17 · 9 links

Parallel Passages

2 Samuel 3:27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

From Thompson’s Chain-Reference Bible (1908).

Cross References

2 Samuel 3:27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
2 Kings 14:10–12 Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee? …
Proverbs 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Ecclesiastes 6:10 That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

From OpenBible.info, most relevant first.

Topics

Abner Loyalty of, to the house of Saul
Asahel 1. Nephew of David, and one of his captains
David David wages war against and defeats Ish-bosheth
Homicide Abner
Israel The conflict between the two political factions
Joab Defeats and kills Abner
Saul Their bodies exposed in Beth-shan; rescued by the people of Jabesh and burned; bones of, buried under a tree at Jabesh
War Civil

Kings of Israel & Judah

DavidKing of Israel · 1055–1015 BC
IshboshethRival King of Israel · 1055–1048 BC

Timeline

Timeline of the Bible1055–1015 BC · David reigns in Israel

Bible Dictionary

AbnerFather of light; i.e., “enlightening”, the son of Ner and uncle of Saul. He was commander-in-chief of Saul’s army (1 Sam 14:50; 1 Sam...
AsahelMade by God, the youngest son of Zeruiah, David’s sister. He was celebrated for his swiftness of foot. When fighting against Ish-bosheth...
JoabJehovah is his father. (1.) One of the three sons of Zeruiah, David’s sister, and “captain of the host” during the whole of David’s reign...

Hebrew and Strong’s

And Abner אַבְנֵר ʾabnēr אַבְנֵר Proper name
said לֵאמֹר lēʾmōr אָמַר Verb · qal infinitive construct · with preposition
again וַיֹּסֶף wayyōsep יָסַף Verb · hiphil sequential imperfect, third person masculine singular · with and עוֹד ʿôd Adverb
to Asahel אֶל ʾel Preposition עֲשָׂהאֵל ʿăśāhʾēl עֲשָׂהאֵל Proper name
Turn thee aside סוּר sûr סוּר Verb · qal imperative, second person masculine singular
from following לְךָ lĕkā Preposition · with suffix: second person masculine singular מֵאַחֲרָי mēʾaḥărāy אַחַר Preposition · with suffix: first person common singular
me: wherefore should I smite אַכֶּכָּה ʾakkekkâ נָכָה Verb · hiphil imperfect, first person common singular · with suffix: second person masculine singular
thee to the ground אַרְצָה ʾarṣâ אֶרֶץ Noun · masculine or feminine singular · with ending: toward
how then should I hold up לָמָּה lāmmâ Interrogative · with preposition וְאֵיךְ wĕʾêk Interrogative · with and אֶשָּׂא ʾeśśāʾ נָשָׂא Verb · qal imperfect, first person common singular
my face פָנַי pānay פָּנִים Noun · masculine or feminine plural construct · with suffix: first person common singular
to Joab אֶל ʾel Preposition יוֹאָב yôʾāb יוֹאָב Proper name
thy brother אָחִיךָ ʾāḥîkā אָח Noun · masculine singular construct · with suffix: second person masculine singular

Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex, Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible · CC BY 4.0