Abishai

5Then David went to the place where Saul was camped. He saw where Saul was lying down. Abner son of Ner was there too. Abner was the leader of Saul's army. Saul slept in the middle of the camp. His soldiers slept in a circle all around him.

And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.

NoteArmies slept in a big circle at night. The king slept in the middle, the safest spot of all.

6David spoke to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai. Abishai's mother was Zeruiah, and his brother was Joab. David asked, "Who will go down with me into Saul's camp?" Abishai said, "I will go with you."

Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.

NoteA Hittite was someone from another people who lived near Israel. Zeruiah was David's sister. So Abishai and Joab were David's nephews.

7So David and Abishai came to the camp at night. Saul was lying there fast asleep in the middle of the camp. His spear was stuck in the ground by his head. Abner and the soldiers were sleeping all around him.

So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.

NoteA spear is a long pole with a sharp point on the end. Saul's spear stuck in the ground showed where the king slept.

8Abishai said to David, "Today God has handed your enemy over to you. Let me push the spear through him into the ground. One try is all I will need."

Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.

9But David said, "No, do not kill him. God chose Saul to be king. Anyone who hurts him would be doing wrong."

And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?

NoteWhen God chose a king, oil was poured on his head. That is what the old words "the LORD's anointed" mean. Hurting such a man was seen as a very serious wrong.

10David went on, "As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD himself will strike Saul down. Or his time to die will come. Or he will go to battle and be killed there.

David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

Note"As surely as the LORD lives" was a way to make a strong promise. It means "I truly mean what I say."

11But I will never lift my hand against the man God chose as king. Just take the spear by his head and the water jug. Then let us go."

The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’s anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

NoteA water jug was a small clay pot for carrying drinking water. In that dry land, people took one everywhere they went.

12So David took the spear and the water jug from beside Saul's head. Then they left. Nobody saw them. Nobody knew. Nobody even woke up. They all stayed asleep, because God had put a deep sleep on them.

So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.

NoteDavid took the spear and the jug to show he had been there. He was close enough to hurt Saul, and he chose not to.

18The three sons of Zeruiah were there. They were Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel could run as fast as a wild deer.

And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

NoteThe King James calls Asahel "light of foot as a wild roe." A roe is a kind of deer. It can run very fast.

19Asahel chased after Abner. He did not turn left or right. He just kept after Abner.

And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

20Abner looked behind him and said, "Is that you, Asahel?" Asahel said, "Yes, it is."

Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.

21Abner said, "Turn to your right or your left. Go after one of the young men and take his weapons." But Asahel would not stop chasing him.

And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.

NoteAfter a fight, winners took the weapons of the men they beat. Abner was telling Asahel to go chase someone easier.

22Abner said again, "Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you down? Then how could I look your brother Joab in the face?"

And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?

NoteJoab was Asahel's older brother. Abner did not want Joab angry at him forever.

23But Asahel would not turn away. So Abner shoved the back end of his spear into Asahel's stomach. It came out his back. He fell and died right there. Every man who came to that spot stopped and stood still.

Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.

NoteA spear is a long stick with a sharp point on one end. Abner hit him with the blunt back end instead.

24But Joab and Abishai kept chasing Abner. The sun was going down when they reached the hill of Ammah. It is near Giah, on the road to the dry land of Gibeon.

Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

Note"Dry land" here means empty country with few plants and no towns.

26Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought Abner back from the well of Sirah. David did not know about it.

And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.

NoteThe well of Sirah was a water well beside the road. It was a short way outside Hebron.

27When Abner came back to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gateway. He acted as if he wanted to talk quietly. There Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and Abner died. Joab did it to pay Abner back for killing his brother Asahel.

And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

NoteA town gate was a wide doorway where people met and talked. In those days, if a man was killed, his family was expected to pay the killer back. Joab was doing that for his brother Asahel.

28Later David heard what had happened. He said, "I did not kill Abner son of Ner. The LORD knows my kingdom and I are not guilty of his death, now or ever."

And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

29"Let the blame fall on Joab and on all his father's family. May Joab's family always have someone who is sick and does not get well, or has a bad skin disease. May some need a stick to walk. May some die by the sword. May some go hungry."

Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

NotePeople then stayed away from anyone with a bad skin disease. So being sick that way meant living apart from friends and family.

30Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner. They did it because Abner had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.

So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

9Joab saw that enemies were in front of him and behind him. So he picked out the best fighters in Israel. He lined them up to face the Syrians.

When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:

10He put the rest of the men under his brother Abishai. Abishai lined them up to face the soldiers of Ammon.

And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.

11Joab said to his brother, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, come and help me. If the men of Ammon are too strong for you, I will come and help you.

And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.

12Be brave. Let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what he thinks is best."

Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.

NoteThe old words say "let us play the men." That did not mean a game. It meant, act brave and strong.

13Then Joab and his men moved forward to fight the Syrians. The Syrians ran away from them.

And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.

14The men of Ammon saw the Syrians run away. So they ran away from Abishai too. They went back inside their city. Then Joab stopped fighting Ammon and went home to Jerusalem.

And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

5King David came near a town called Bahurim. A man from Saul's family came out to meet him. His name was Shimei, son of Gera. He kept cursing David as he came, shouting for bad things to happen to him.

And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

NoteBahurim was a small town near the road David was walking. To curse someone means to shout for bad things to happen to them.

6He threw stones at David and at all of David's servants. All the people and all the strong fighters walked on David's right side and his left side.

And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.

NoteThe King James calls them David's "mighty men." They were his bravest and strongest soldiers.

7This is what Shimei shouted as he cursed. "Get out, get out, you killer! You are a worthless man!"

And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:

NoteThe King James says "thou man of Belial." That was a way of calling someone bad and good for nothing.

8"The LORD is paying you back for the blood of Saul's family. You became king in Saul's place. Now the LORD has given the kingdom to your son Absalom. You are caught in your own trouble, because you are a killer."

The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.

NoteShimei is blaming David for people in Saul's family who died. He thinks David took the throne in a wrong way.

9Then Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, spoke to the king. "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over there and cut off his head."

Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.

NoteAbishai was David's nephew and one of his best fighters. Calling someone a "dead dog" was a very strong insult. It meant the person was worth nothing.

10The king said, "This is not your business, you sons of Zeruiah. Let him curse me. The LORD told him to curse David. So who can ask why he did it?"

And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

NoteZeruiah was David's sister. Her sons fought for David and were quick to get angry.

11David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Look. My own son wants to kill me. So of course this man from Benjamin's family wants to hurt me too. Leave him alone. Let him curse. The LORD told him to."

And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

NoteBenjamin was one of the twelve family groups of Israel. King Saul came from that group, so Shimei's family and David's family did not get along.

12"Maybe the LORD will see how much I am hurting. Maybe he will give me good things because of the cursing I get today."

It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.

13So David and his men kept walking down the road. Shimei walked along the side of the hill across from them. As he went, he cursed, threw stones, and threw dirt at David.

And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

NoteThrowing dirt at someone showed everyone that you hated them.

14The king and all the people with him were worn out when they arrived. They rested there and felt better.

And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

1David counted the soldiers who were with him. He picked leaders for large groups and for small groups.

And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

NoteDavid was the king of Israel. His own son Absalom had taken the throne. Now David's men had to fight Absalom's men.

2David split the army into three parts. Joab led one part. Abishai, Joab's brother, led one part. Ittai, a man from the city of Gath, led one part. The king said, "I will march out with you too."

And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

NoteGath was a Philistine city, not an Israelite one. Ittai came from there, but he chose to help David.

3But the people said, "You must not come. If we run away, no one will care about us. Even if half of us die, no one will care. But you are worth ten thousand of us. It is better if you help us from inside the city."

But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.

NoteThe soldiers mean the enemy wants the king most of all. If David stays safe, the army still has its leader.

4The king said, "I will do what you think is best." So the king stood beside the city gate. All the soldiers marched out in groups, large and small.

And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.

NoteCities had a high wall all around them. The gate was the way in and out. Kings often stood or sat there to watch and to judge.

5The king gave an order to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai. He said, "Be gentle with the young man Absalom, for my sake." All the soldiers heard the king say this about Absalom.

And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

16Shimei son of Gera hurried down with the men of Judah. He was from Bahurim, from the tribe of Benjamin. He came to meet King David.

And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.

NoteShimei had thrown stones at David and shouted at him when David ran away from Jerusalem. Benjamin was the tribe of Saul, the king before David.

17A thousand men of Benjamin came with him. So did Ziba, who ran Saul's household. Ziba brought his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They hurried down to the Jordan ahead of the king.

And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.

NoteZiba was the servant who took care of Saul's land and household.

18They crossed at the shallow place to carry the king's family over. They wanted to do whatever pleased him. When Shimei crossed the Jordan, he bowed low before the king.

And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;

19He said, "My king, please do not count me guilty. Please forget the wrong I did to you. I did it the day you left Jerusalem. Please do not hold it against me.

And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.

20I know that I did wrong. So today I am the first of all the northern families of Israel to come and meet you."

For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.

NoteThe "house of Joseph" meant the tribes living in the north of the country.

21But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, "Shouldn't Shimei die for this? He cursed the king that God chose."

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?

Note"The LORD's anointed" means the king God had chosen. Cursing him was treated as a very serious crime.

22David said, "Sons of Zeruiah, why are you against me today? No one will be put to death in Israel today. Today I know that I am king over Israel."

And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?

NoteZeruiah was David's sister. Her sons Joab and Abishai were David's nephews and fought in his army.

23So the king said to Shimei, "You will not die." And the king made him a promise.

Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.

4Then the king said to Amasa, "Call the men of Judah to come to me. Do it within three days. Be here yourself too."

Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.

NoteAmasa had been the leader of Absalom's army. After Absalom died, David forgave him and made him leader of his own army instead.

5So Amasa went to call the men of Judah. But he took longer than the king had told him.

So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

6David said to Abishai, "Sheba will hurt us more than Absalom did. Take my servants and go after him. If he reaches strong walled cities, he will get away from us."

And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.

NoteAbishai was Joab's brother. Both of them were David's soldiers and had fought for him for years. A walled city had thick high walls all around it. Once a man got inside one, it was very hard to catch him.

7So Joab's men marched out after Sheba. The Cherethites and the Pelethites went too. All the best fighters went with them. They left Jerusalem to chase Sheba son of Bichri.

And there went out after him Joab’s men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

NoteThe Cherethites and the Pelethites were David's own guards. They came from other lands and were paid to protect the king.

8They stopped at the big rock near the town of Gibeon. Amasa came out to meet them there. Joab was wearing his soldier clothes and a belt. A sword in its cover was tied to the belt. As Joab stepped forward, the sword slipped out into his hand.

When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab’s garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.

NoteGibeon was a town a few miles north of Jerusalem. The big rock there was a landmark everyone knew, a good place to meet.

9Joab said to Amasa, "Are you well, my brother?" With his right hand Joab took hold of Amasa's beard to kiss him.

And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.

NoteTaking hold of a man's beard and kissing his cheek was a warm hello between friends. It was like giving someone a hug today. So Amasa was not expecting any trouble.

10Amasa was not watching the sword in Joab's hand. Joab pushed it into his belly. Amasa's insides spilled onto the ground. Joab did not have to strike him again. Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai went on chasing Sheba son of Bichri.

But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

NoteThe King James says Joab struck him "in the fifth rib." That means the soft part of the belly, just under the ribs.

11One of Joab's young men stood near the body. He called out, "Everyone who likes Joab and stands with David, follow Joab!"

And one of Joab’s men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.

12Amasa lay in his own blood in the middle of the road. The man saw that all the soldiers stopped there to look. So he pulled the body off the road into a field. Then he threw a cloth over it.

And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

NotePeople stopped and stared at the body lying in the road. Covering a dead person with a cloth was the kind and respectful thing to do. It also let the soldiers keep walking.

13Once the body was off the road, all the men went on with Joab. They kept chasing Sheba son of Bichri.

When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.