When Joab saw that there was a battle line in front of him and another behind him, he chose some men out of all the elite troops of Israel and lined up in battle formation to engage the Arameans.

“What was the outcome? Tell me,” David asked him.

“The troops fled from the battle,” he answered. “Many of the troops have fallen and are dead. Also, Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”

How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle!
Jonathan lies slain on your heights.

The battle that day was extremely fierce, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by David’s soldiers.

Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

Even while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led us out to battle and brought us back. The Lord also said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over Israel.’”

The Ammonites marched out and lined up in battle formation at the entrance to the city gate while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were in the field by themselves.

He placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai who lined up in battle formation to engage the Ammonites.

When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam. Then the Arameans lined up in formation to engage David in battle and fought against him.

Then the men of the city came out and attacked Joab, and some of the men from David’s soldiers fell in battle; Uriah the Hittite also died.

Joab sent someone to report to David all the details of the battle.

He commanded the messenger, “When you’ve finished telling the king all the details of the battle—

Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba—as numerous as the sand by the sea—be gathered to you and that you personally go into battle.

Then David’s forces marched into the field to engage Israel in battle, which took place in the forest of Ephraim.

The battle spread over the entire region, and that day the forest claimed more people than the sword.

So they returned to the city quietly that day like people come in when they are humiliated after fleeing in battle.

But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?”

But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him: “You must never again go out with us to battle. You must not extinguish the lamp of Israel.”

After this, there was another battle with the Philistines at Gob. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the descendants of the giant.

Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam.

At Gath there was still another battle. A huge man was there with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—24 in all. He, too, was descended from the giant.

You have clothed me with strength for battle;
You subdue my adversaries beneath me.

After him, Eleazar son of Dodo son of an Ahohite was among the three warriors with David when they defied the Philistines. The men of Israel retreated in the place they had gathered for battle,