Now Davidhad said,"Whoeverstrikesdowna Jebusitefirstshall be chiefand commander."Joabthe sonof Zeruiahwentup first,so he becamechief.
And Joabthe sonof Zeruiahand the servantsof Davidwentout and metthem by the poolof Gibeon;and they satdown,oneon the onesideof the pooland the otheron the othersideof the pool.
Now the threesonsof Zeruiahwere there,Joaband Abishaiand Asahel;and Asahel[was] [as] swift-footedas oneof the gazelleswhichis in the field.
Now Joabwas overthe wholearmyof Israel,and Benaiahthe sonof Jehoiadawas overthe Cherethitesand the Pelethites;
So when Abnerreturnedto Hebron,Joabtookhim asideinto the middleof the gateto speakwith him privately,and therehe struckhim in the bellyso that he diedon account of the bloodof Asahelhis brother.
Joabthe sonof Zeruiah[was] overthe army,and Jehoshaphatthe sonof Ahilud[was] recorder.
He had conferredwith Joabthe sonof Zeruiahand with Abiatharthe priest;and followingAdonijahthey helpedhim.
The inhabitantsof Jebussaidto David,"You shall not enterhere."Nevertheless Davidcapturedthe strongholdof Zion(that is, the cityof David).
Then Daviddweltin the stronghold;thereforeit was calledthe cityof David.
Joabthe sonof Zeruiah[was] overthe army,and Jehoshaphatthe sonof Ahilud[was] recorder;
Jehoiadathe sonof Benaiah,and AbiatharsucceededAhithophel;and Joabwas the commanderof the king'sarmy.
Whowill bringme into the besiegedcity?Whowill leadme to Edom?
The menof Israelsaid,"Have you seenthismanwho is comingup? Surelyhe is comingup to defyIsrael.And it will be that the kingwill enrichthe manwhokillshim with greatrichesand will givehim his daughterand makehis father'shousefreein Israel."
