THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
How should we interpret the words of Abenir: "Let the young men come up before us, and let them play" (2 Sam. 2:14)? Abenir suggested to the finest young warriors a contest of arms, likening this personal engagement to the larger battlefield as a game. Each group gathered an equal number from the tribes for the conflict. The deaths of the combatants did not conclude the struggle; rather, they paved the way for a more expansive confrontation. As the battle shifted in favor of one side, Abenir’s followers fled in haste, pursued relentlessly by Joab’s men. Azael, Joab’s younger brother, known for his incredible speed and agility, focused solely on targeting Abenir. Abenir, recognizing Azael's intent, gently urged him to redirect his aggression towards another of the fleeing warriors.
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He persuaded him to refrain from killing him, suggesting instead that Azael disarm him to gain some reward for his efforts. However, when Azael persisted in his pursuit of Abenir’s life, Abenir calmly warned him: "Depart from me, lest I strike you to the ground; and how will I show my face to Joab your brother?" (2 Kings 2:22). Ultimately, realizing that Azael was determined to kill him, Abenir used the point of his spear to thwart his advance, ending his life in the process.