Abner knew that Asahel was the brother of Joab and that a fight with him would damage his relationship with Joab.1 He would not be able to engage in diplomacy with Joab if he had killed Joab's brother,2 and he was confident that this would be the outcome of any confrontation. Quite possibly, he sought to keep his options open so that he could defect to David if his plans for Ish-Bosheth did not work out.3
22 Abner dit encore à Asaël: Détourne-toi de moi; pourquoi te frapperais-je et t'abattrais-je à terre? Comment ensuite lèverais-je le visage devant ton frère Joab?