THEOSISGregory the Great
When individuals filled with anger lash out at others in ways that seem irreconcilable, it is wise not to confront them directly with harsh words, but rather to address them with gentleness and respect. This principle can be illuminated by considering the actions of Abner. When Asahel aggressively pursued him, Abner warned him, as recorded in Scripture, "Get thee behind me, lest I cast thee down to the ground... But the man would not depart." Subsequently, Abner, turning his spear, struck him in the abdomen, and the spear pierced through him, causing Asahel to fall and die at once. Who does Asahel represent, if not those who are driven by a moment of madness? Those who succumb to such irrationality must be approached with heightened caution, especially as their rage intensifies.
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Abner, whose name signifies "the light of the father," retreated; he exemplifies a teacher who, recognizing that someone's mind is led astray by the tempest of madness, chooses to remain silent instead of confronting the angry individual head-on.
However, when such angry souls refuse to temper their fury—and like Asahel, continue their relentless pursuit—it is crucial to not let their wrath escalate unchecked. Instead, one should strive to calm their turmoil, offering them a semblance of peace, enabling them to see what, like an external force, seeps into their inflamed minds. When Abner faced his aggressor, he did not strike him with the sharp end of his spear, which would symbolize a direct condemnation; rather, he used the blunt end to touch Asahel gently, thereby defeating him, in a way, by sparing his life. Asahel fell lifeless to the ground, illustrating how troubled souls, upon realizing they have been granted mercy, and feeling the soothing effect of such treatment, often descend from the lofty peaks of their anger. Thus, when they retreat from their fit of madness at the touch of nobility, it resembles a death—a victory won without the need for arms.