⁶ David had said, “Whoever leads the attack on the Jebusites will become commander in chief.” Joab^(A) son of Zeruiah went up first, and so he received the command.

¹⁶ Joab^(A) son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat^(B) son of Ahilud was recorder;^(C)

David’s Officials

²³ Joab^(A) was over Israel’s entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites;

²⁷ Now when Abner^(A) returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him^(B) in the stomach, and he died.^(C)

¹⁸ The three sons of Zeruiah^(A) were there: Joab,^(B) Abishai^(C) and Asahel.^(D) Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle.^(E)

²⁵ Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter^(A) in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes^(B) in Israel.”

¹⁶ And Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Aksah^(A) in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.” ¹⁷ Othniel^(B) son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage.