A boy asked his folks how WWII started. They were soon arguing. “OK. I see how wars start,” he said.
In the battle at Gibeon’s pool, it’s hard to know who struck the first blow. The text simply reads, “each one grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side” (2 Sam 2:16). Of course that wasn’t the end of it—24 of the best young men slain. The competing became “a very fierce battle.” The tide of the skirmish quickly turned, “and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David” (v 17). Then the Spirit of God pauses to tell us about three brothers there—the sons of Zeruiah, David’s sister: “Joab and Abishai and Asahel” (v 18). Joab was David’s commander. Abishai was Joab’s older brother, and Asahel was the youngest of the three. “And Asahel was as fleet of foot as a wild gazelle.” Now gazelles are very fast, but not very smart! So Asahel proved to be. He got his eye on the retreating general, Abner, and raced after him. Counting on his quickness to gain the advantage, Asahel wore no protective armor. As he gained on Abner, a conversation ensued: “Is that you, Asahel?” “Yes.” “Stop and put some armor on.” “Not a chance.” “Look, I don’t want to kill you; how would I face your brother Joab if I did?” “However,” we read, “he refused to turn aside” (v 23). Finally, in an act of self-defense, Abner drove his spear handle backwards. It caught Asahel under his fifth rib, killing him on the spot. Finally, at “the hill of Ammah” (v 24), the two armies gathered. Twenty had died on Joab’s side, but 360 on Abner’s side. “Shall the sword devour forever?” Abner cried. “Do you not know that it will be bitter in the latter end?” (v 26). It certainly would be, but Abner had started it. “Where do wars and fights come from among you?” ( Jas 4:1). Wrong desires, James says, will always lead to conflict.