And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

And the battle was very sore that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

And there was a very fierce battle that day: and Abner was put to flight, with the men of Israel, by the servants of David.

And the battle that day was very severe; and Abner and the men of Israel were routed before the servants of David.

And there was a very severe battle that day; and Abner was defeated, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

and the battle is very hard on that day, and Abner is smitten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

And there was hard fighting that day; and Abner and the men of Israel gave way before the servants of David.

And a very harsh war rose up on that day. And Abner, with the men of Israel, was put to flight by the youths of David.

Neither side had the advantage in the combat of twelve a side; hence, the quarrel was fought out with great fierceness by the two armies, and the victory was won by David.

And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, (k) before the servants of David.
(k) After that these four and twenty were slain.

And there was a very sore battle that day,.... When the twenty four men fell together, and no decision could be made thereby, or any triumph on either side, both armies drew up in battle array, and fought very furiously:
and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David; the army under him had the worst of it, and were routed, and obliged to flee before the army of David under the command of Joab.

As this single combat decided nothing, there followed a general and very sore or fierce battle, in which Abner and his troops were put to flight by the soldiers of David. The only thing connected with this, of which we have any further account, is the slaughter of Asahel by Abner, which is mentioned here (2-Samuel 2:18-23) on account of the important results which followed. Of the three sons of Zeruiah, viz., Joab, Abishai, and Asahel, Asahel was peculiarly light of foot, like one of the gazelles; and he pursued Abner most eagerly, without turning aside to the right or to the left.