He said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the children of `Ammon be too strong for you, then I will come and help you.
Now when Yo'av saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Yisra'el, and put them in array against the Syrians:
David sent forth the people, a third part under the hand of Yo'av, and a third part under the hand of Avishai the son of Tzeru'yah, Yo'av's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
Avishai, the brother of Yo'av, the son of Tzeru'yah, was chief of the three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.