³ But the men said, “You must not go out; if we are forced to flee, they won’t care about us. Even if half of us die, they won’t care; but you are worth ten^(A) thousand of us.^[a] It would be better now for you to give us support from the city.”^(B)

¹⁷ But Abishai^(A) son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp^(B) of Israel will not be extinguished.^(C)”

The Shepherd Struck, the Sheep Scattered

³¹ Now the king of Aram^(A) had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king^(B) of Israel.”

² I would attack him while he is weary and weak.^(A) I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king^(B)

¹¹ Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to come to my rescue; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to rescue you.

¹⁰ So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur^(A) went to the top of the hill. ¹¹ As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning,^(B) but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. ¹² When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.^(C)