שמואל ב, פרק ב׳, פסוק י״ח

Among David's servants, the three sons of Zeruiah clearly stood out. Zeruiah was David's sister, who was likely older than him, and her sons were Joab, Abishai, and Asahel [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Attention is drawn to Asahel's physical abilities, specifically his extraordinary swiftness on foot. This detail is not merely background information, but a crucial setup for the events that follow. Relying heavily on his speed, Asahel decided to chase down Abner to kill him, taking on a dangerous pursuit that the others avoided. Overly confident in his physical ability, he failed to internalize the wisdom that the race does not always belong to the swift. This blind trust in his own speed ultimately drove him into the chase [רד״ק, אברבנאל].