Abishai

15Later the Philistines went to war against Israel again. David and his men went down and fought them. But David grew very tired and weak.

Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.

16A Philistine named Ishbi-benob came from a family of giants. The metal head of his spear weighed about eight pounds. He carried a new sword, and he meant to kill David.

And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.

NoteThe old text says the spear head weighed three hundred shekels. A shekel was a small weight, a little less than half an ounce. "Sons of the giant" means a family known for men who were very tall and strong.

17But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, came to help David. He struck that Philistine down and killed him. Then David's men made him promise something. They said, "You must never go out to battle with us again. The lamp of Israel must not go out."

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.

NoteA lamp was a small clay dish of oil with a burning wick. Calling David the lamp of Israel was a way of saying he kept the country going. If he died, it would feel like the light going out.

18Abishai was Joab's brother and the son of Zeruiah. He was the chief of the three. He raised his spear against three hundred men and killed them. He became famous, like the three.

And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three.

NoteZeruiah was David's sister. So Abishai and Joab were David's nephews.

19He was the most honored of the three, so he became their leader. But he was not one of the first three.

Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.

20Abishai, Joab's brother, was the leader of the three. He fought three hundred men with his spear and killed them. He became famous, like the three men were.

And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three.

21He was honored twice as much as those three, and he became their commander. But he was not counted as one of the first three.

Of the three, he was more honourable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three.

12Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, fought the people of Edom in the Valley of Salt. He killed eighteen thousand of them.

Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.

NoteThe Valley of Salt was a dry, low place near the Dead Sea. The ground there is crusted with white salt. Almost nothing grows in it.

13David put groups of his soldiers in Edom to keep control there. All the people of Edom became his servants. The LORD gave David the win everywhere he went.

And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David’s servants. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

10Joab saw that enemies were lined up in front of him and behind him. So he picked the best fighters in Israel. He lined them up to face the Syrians.

Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.

NoteThe Syrians lived north of Israel. Their land is also called Aram.

11He put the rest of the men under his brother Abishai. They lined up to face the Ammonites.

And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.

NoteAbishai was Joab's brother. He was also a leader in David's army.

12Joab said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, come and help me. If the Ammonites 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 help thee.

13Be brave. Let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. The LORD will do what he thinks is right."

Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.

NoteWhen LORD is written in big letters, it stands for God's own name.

14So Joab and his men moved up to fight the Syrians. The Syrians ran away from him.

So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.

15The Ammonites saw the Syrians running away. So they ran away too, from Joab's brother Abishai. They went back inside the city. Then Joab went home to Jerusalem.

And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.