2 SAMUEL 2:22 — KING JAMES VERSION 0 0
“And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?”
So Abner said to him, 'Turn aside from following me — Abner repeats his warning more urgently: 'Why should I strike you down? How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?' (וְכֵיצַד אֶשָּׂא אֶת־פָּנַי אֶל־יוֹאָב אָחִיךָ, vəkêṣaḏ 'eśśā 'et-pānay 'el-yôʾāb 'āḥîḵā). Abner fears blood feud; he knows that killing David's kinsman will bind Joab in vendetta. Yet Asahel continues his pursuit, forcing Abner's hand. The 'lifting up of face' (נשא פנים, nāśā pānîm) metaphor indicates shame and damaged relationship. Abner understands the covenant logic: kill one of David's brothers, and you make an eternal enemy.
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