Avshalom set `Amasa over the army instead of Yo'av. Now `Amasa was the son of a man, whose name was Yitra the Yisra'eli, who went in to Avigayil the daughter of Nachash, sister to Tzeru'yah, Yo'av's mother.
David said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Tzeru'yah, that you should this day be adversaries to me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Yisra'el? for don't I know that I am this day king over Yisra'el?
Yo'av the son of Tzeru'yah, and the servants of David, went out, and met them by the pool of Giv`on; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.
I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Tzeru'yah are too hard for me. May the LORD reward the evil-doer according to his wickedness.*
Avishai, the brother of Yo'av, he was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.
Then answered David and said to Achimelekh the Chittite, and to Avishai the son of Tzeru'yah, brother to Yo'av, saying, Who will go down with me to Sha'ul to the camp? Avishai said, I will go down with you.