And Davidsaidto Abishai,"NowShebathe sonof Bichriwill dous moreharmthanAbsalom;takeyour lord'sservantsand pursuehim, sothat he does not findfor himself fortifiedcitiesand escapefrom our sight."
When the sonsof Ammonsawthat the Arameansfled,they [also] fledbeforeAbishaiand enteredthe city.Then Joabreturnedfrom [fighting] againstthe sonsof Ammonand cameto Jerusalem.
Uriahsaidto David,"The arkand Israeland Judahare stayingin temporaryshelters,and my lordJoaband the servantsof my lordare campingin the openfield.Shall I then goto my houseto eatand to drinkand to liewith my wife?By your lifeand the lifeof your soul,I will not dothisthing."
The mansaidto Joab,"Even ifI should receivea thousand[pieces of] silverin my hand,I would not putout my handagainstthe king'sson;for in our hearingthe kingchargedyou and Abishaiand Ittai,saying,Protectfor me the youngmanAbsalom!'
Davidsentthe peopleout, one thirdunder the commandof Joab,one thirdunder the commandof Abishaithe sonof Zeruiah,Joab'sbrother,and one thirdunder the commandof Ittaithe Gittite.And the kingsaidto the people,"I myselfwill surelygoout with you also."
"Nowtherefore arise,goout and speakkindlyto your servants,for I swearby the LORD,ifyou do not goout, surelynot a manwill passthe nightwith you, and thiswill be worsefor you thanallthe evilthat has comeupon you from your youthuntilnow."
Now the threesonsof Zeruiahwere there,Joaband Abishaiand Asahel;and Asahel[was] [as] swift-footedas oneof the gazelleswhichis in the field.
But Abishaithe sonof Zeruiahhelpedhim, and struckthe Philistineand killedhim. Thenthe menof Davidsworeto him, saying,"You shall not goout againwith us to battle,sothat you do not extinguishthe lampof Israel."
Abishai,the brotherof Joab,the sonof Zeruiah,was chiefof the thirty.And he swunghis spearagainstthreehundredand killed[them], and had a nameas well as the three.
So Joaband Abishaihis brotherkilledAbnerbecausehe had puttheir brotherAsahelto deathin the battleat Gibeon.
"I am weaktoday,though anointedking;and thesementhe sonsof Zeruiahare toodifficultfor me. May the LORDrepaythe evildoeraccording to his evil."
The kingsaidto them, "Takewith you the servantsof your lord,and have my sonSolomonrideon my own mule,and bringhim downto Gihon.
As for Abshaithe brotherof Joab,he was chiefof the thirty,and he swunghis spearagainstthreehundredand killedthem; and he had a nameas well as the thirty.
Moreover Abishaithe sonof Zeruiahdefeated18000Edomitesin the Valleyof Salt.
Whyare we sittingstill?Assembleyourselves, and let us gointo the fortifiedcitiesAnd let us perishthere,Becausethe LORDour Godhas doomedus And givenus poisonedwaterto drink,For we have sinnedagainst the LORD.
"Ifa kingdomis dividedagainstitself,that kingdomcannotstand.
Then Davidsaidto Ahimelechthe Hittiteand to Abishaithe sonof Zeruiah,Joab'sbrother,saying,"Whowill godownwith me to Saulin the camp?"And Abishaisaid,"I will godownwith you."
