David said to him, "How did it go? Please tell me." He answered, "The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also."

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain on your high places.

The battle was very severe that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

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

The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

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

So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.

It happened, at the return of the year, at the time when kings go out [to battle], that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.

He wrote in the letter, saying, "Send Uriah to the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck, and die."

Then David said to the messenger, "Thus you shall tell Joab, 'Don't let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Make your battle stronger against the city, and overthrow it.' Encourage him."

But I counsel that all Israel be gathered together to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that you go to battle in your own person.

So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.

For the battle was there spread over the surface of all the country; and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

The people snuck into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why don't you speak a word of bringing the king back?"

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, "You shall go no more out with us to battle, that you don't quench the lamp of Israel."

For you have armed me with strength for the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.

After him was Eleazar the son of Dodai the son of an Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines who were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away.