14 Abner suggested to Joab, “Let the young men come forward and compete before us.”And Joab replied, “Let them come.”
15 So they stepped forward and were counted, twelve from Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth and twelve from the servants of David.
16 Each one grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath Hazzurim, which is at Gibeon.
17 The fighting was very fierce that day, but Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David.
18 Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel; and Asahel was as fast as a wild gazelle.
19 So Asahel pursued Abner, and as he went, he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.
20 Abner looked behind him and said, “Is that you, Asahel?”He answered, “It is I.”