Now the threesonsof Zeruiahwere there,Joaband Abishaiand Asahel;and Asahel[was] [as] swift-footedas oneof the gazelleswhichis in the field.
"Sauland Jonathan,belovedand pleasantin their life,And in their deaththey were not parted;They were swifterthaneagles,They were strongerthanlions.
Now Joabthe sonof Zeruiahperceivedthat the king'sheart[was inclined] towardAbsalom.
AsahelpursuedAbnerand did not turnto the rightor to the leftfrom followingAbner.
"He makesmy feetlike hinds'[feet], And setsme on my highplaces.
Asahelthe brotherof Joabwas among the thirty;Elhananthe sonof Dodoof Bethlehem,
"Now you alsoknowwhatJoabthe sonof Zeruiahdidto me, whathe didto the twocommandersof the armiesof Israel,to Abnerthe sonof Ner,and to Amasathe sonof Jether,whom he killed;he also shedthe bloodof warin peace.And he putthe bloodof waron his beltabout his waist,and on his sandalson his feet.
Now the mightymenof the armies[were] Asahelthe brotherof Joab,Elhananthe sonof Dodoof Bethlehem,
From the Gaditesthere cameoverto Davidin the strongholdin the wilderness,mightymenof valor,mentrainedfor war,who could handleshieldand spear,and whose faceswere like the facesof lions,and [they were] as swiftas the gazelleson the mountains.
Ezer[was] the first,Obadiahthe second,Eliabthe third,
The fourthfor the fourthmonth[was] Asahelthe brotherof Joab,and Zebadiahhis sonafterhim; and in his division[were] 24,000
He makesmy feetlike hinds'[feet], And setsme upon my highplaces.
I againsawunderthe sunthat the raceis not to the swiftand the battleis not to the warriors,and neitheris breadto the wisenorwealthto the discerningnorfavorto men of ability;for timeand chanceovertakethem all.
"Untilthe coolof the daywhen the shadowsfleeaway, Turn,my beloved,and be likea gazelleOra youngstagon the mountainsof Bether."
"Hurry,my beloved,And be likea gazelleora youngstagOn the mountainsof spices."
"Flightwill perishfrom the swift,And the stalwartwill not strengthenhis power,Northe mightymansavehis life.
The LordGODis my strength,And He has mademy feetlike hinds'[feet], And makes me walkon my highplaces.For the choirdirector,on my stringedinstruments.
Then Davidsaidto Ahimelechthe Hittiteand to Abishaithe sonof Zeruiah,Joab'sbrother,saying,"Whowill godownwith me to Saulin the camp?"And Abishaisaid,"I will godownwith you."
