Now David's soldiers and Joab were coming back from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for David had sent him away and he had left in peace.

Then the king said to his servants, "Do you not realize that a great leader has fallen this day in Israel?

They loaded the ark of God on a new cart and carried it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart.

I was with you wherever you went, and I defeated all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth.

For the sake of your promise and according to your purpose you have done this great thing in order to reveal it to your servant.

Therefore you are great, O Lord God, for there is none like you! There is no God besides you! What we have heard is true!

Who is like your people, Israel, a unique nation on the earth? Their God went to claim a nation for himself and to make a name for himself! You did great and awesome acts for your land, before your people whom you delivered for yourself from the Egyptian empire and its gods.

From Tebah and Berothai, Hadadezer's cities, King David took a great deal of bronze.

The rich man had a great many flocks and herds.

He took the crown of their king from his head -- it was gold, weighed about seventy-five pounds, and held a precious stone -- and it was placed on David's head. He also took from the city a great deal of plunder.

Some time later Absalom managed to acquire a chariot and horses, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.

So the king and all the members of his royal court set out on foot, though the king left behind ten concubines to attend to the palace.

The army of Israel was defeated there by David's men. The slaughter there was great that day -- 20,000 soldiers were killed.

The king replied, "How is the young man Absalom?" Ahimaaz replied, "I saw a great deal of confusion when Joab was sending the king's servant and me, your servant, but I don't know what it was all about."

Joab said to Amasa, "How are you, my brother?" With his right hand Joab took hold of Amasa's beard as if to greet him with a kiss.

he stood his ground and fought the Philistines until his hand grew so tired that it seemed stuck to his sword. The Lord gave a great victory on that day. When the army returned to him, the only thing left to do was to plunder the corpses.

But he made a stand in the middle of that area. He defended it and defeated the Philistines; the Lord gave them a great victory.

Benaiah son of Jehoida was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a cistern on a snowy day.

David said to Gad, "I am very upset! I prefer that we be attacked by the Lord, for his mercy is great; I do not want to be attacked by men!"