שמואל ב, פרק ב׳, פסוק כ״ד

The aftermath of a battlefield death often shifts the focus from general warfare to personal vengeance. While many soldiers paused their advance upon reaching the fallen body of Asahel, his brothers Joab and Abishai pressed on. Driven by their duty as blood avengers, they relentlessly pursued Abner [מלבי״ם, רלב״ג]. Abner, meanwhile, was retreating toward his military base across the Jordan River [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The path of this chase led them through the wilderness of Gibeon, a region situated between the city of Gibeon and the Judean desert [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The pursuit continued until the sun began to set [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Just as evening fell, the two brothers arrived at the hill of Ammah, a location that may have earned its name from a nearby water aqueduct [רד״ק]. Their chase finally reached a point opposite a place known as Giah [רד״ק].

Arriving at this destination at nightfall marked a critical turning point. Abner took advantage of the high, steep terrain of the hill to establish a secure position alongside the men of Benjamin who had rallied around him. This strong defensive stance ultimately opened a dialogue between the opposing factions, bringing the active combat to an end [רלב״ג].