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“What happened?” David asked. “Tell me.” “The men fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”
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“How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
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The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated by David’s men.
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(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)
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he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze.
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The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance of their city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maakah were by themselves in the open country.
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Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans.
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When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan and went to Helam. The Arameans formed their battle lines to meet David and fought against him.
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Joab sent David a full account of the battle.
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He instructed the messenger: “When you have finished giving the king this account of the battle,
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“So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba—as numerous as the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle.
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David’s army marched out of the city to fight Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.
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The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest swallowed up more men that day than the sword.
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The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle.
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and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?”
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Wars Against the Philistines
Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted.
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But Abishai 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 of Israel will not be extinguished.”
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In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.
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In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod.
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In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha.
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He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
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You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me.
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Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the Israelites retreated,
