Thematic Bible: Joab


Thematic Bible



Then came Joab unto the king, in the house, - and said - Thou hast, to-day, covered with shame the faces of all thy servants, who have rescued thy life to-day, and the lives of thy sons and thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; by loving them who hated thee, and hating them who loved thee, - for thou hast declared, to-day, that, nothing to thee, are princes or servants, for I perceive, to-day, that, if, Absolom, had lived, and, all we, to-day had died, that, then, it had been right in thine eyes.


Then Joab came in unto the king, and said - What hast thou done? Lo! Abner came in unto thee. Wherefore is it that thou didst let him go, so that he is clean departed? Thou knowest Abner son of Ner, that, to deceive thee, he came, - and to take knowledge of thy going out, and thy coming in, and to take knowledge of all that thou art doing. And, when Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and brought him back from the well of Sirah, - but, David, knew it not. read more.
So Abner returned to Hebron, and Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate, to speak with him quietly, - and then smote him there, in the belly, that he died, for the blood of Asahel the brother of Joab.

Moreover also, thou, knowest what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with two generals of the armies of Israel - with Abner son of Ner, and with Amasa son of Jether - both of whom he slew, shedding the blood of war in peace, - and putting the blood of war upon his girdle that was on his loins, and upon his sandals, that were on his feet.

Then said Joab unto Amasa, Art thou, well, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand, to kiss him. Amasa not heeding the sword that was in the hand of Joab, he smote him therewith in the belly, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again, and he died. So, Joab and Abishai his brother, pursued Sheba son of Bichri.


And the king said to him - Do as he hath spoken, fall, then, upon him, and bury him, - and so put away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from off me, and from off the house of my father; thus will Yahweh bring back his blood upon his own head, in that he fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing it, - even Abner son of Ner, general of the army of Israel, and Amasa son of Jether, general of the army of Judah; thus shall their blood come back upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed unto times age-abiding, - but, David and his seed, and his house, and his throne, shall have peace, unto times age-abiding, from Yahweh. read more.
So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and put him to death, - and he was buried in his own house, in the wilderness.


and, Joab, son of Zeruiah, was over the army, - and, Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was remembrancer.

and, Joab, son of Zeruiah, was over the army, - and, Jehoshaphat, son of Elihud, was recorder;

And, Joab, was restored unto all the army of Israel, - And, Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites,

And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites, first, shall become a chief, and a ruler, - So then Joab son of Zeruiah, went up first, and became a chief.

And, after Ahitophel, was Jehoiada son of Benaiah - and Abiathar. And, the captain of the king's army, was Joab.


And it came to pass, at the return of the year, at the time of the going forth of kings, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon, and laid siege to Rabbah, - but, David, was remaining in Jerusalem.

And Joab fought against Rabbah, of the sons of Ammon, - and captured the royal city. Then Joab sent messengers unto David, - and said - I have fought against Rabbah, I have also captured the city of the waters. Now, therefore, gather thou together the rest of the people, and encamp against the city, and capture it, - lest, I, capture the city, and it be called by my name. read more.
So David gathered together all the people, and went to Rabbah, - and fought against it, and captured it.

and he wrote in the letter, saying, - Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he be smitten and die. So it came to pass, when Joab was laying siege to the city, that he put Uriah in the place where he knew that the men of valour, were. And forth sallied the men of the city, and fought with Joab, and there fell some of the people, of the servants of David, - then died also, Uriah the Hittite. read more.
So Joab sent and told David all the news of the battle; and he charged the messenger saying, - When thou hast ended all the news of the battle, in speaking unto the king, then shall it be, if the king's anger arise, and he say unto thee, Why came ye near unto the city, to fight? Knew ye not, that they would shoot from off the wall? Who smote Abimelech son of Jerubbaal? Did not, a woman, cast on him an upper millstone from off the wall, that he died, in Thebez? Wherefore came ye near unto the wall? Then shalt thou say - Moreover, thy servant, Uriah the Hittite, died. And the messenger went his way, - and came in, and told David, all that Joab had sent him to tell . And the messenger said unto David, The men were too strong for us, and sallied forth against us, in the field, - so we were drawn against them as far as the opening of the gate. Then did the archers shoot upon thy servants, from off the wall, and there died some of the servants of the king, - moreover also, thy servant, Uriah the Hittite, died. Then said David unto the messenger - Thus, shalt thou say unto Joab, - Let not this thing be grievous in thine eyes, for, now this one, and then that one, doth the sword devour, - make hot thy battle against the city, and overthrow it; Thus embolden thou him.

And it came to pass, at the time of the turn of the year, at the time of the going forth of kings, that Joab led forth the force of the army, and laid waste the land of the sons of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah, but, David, was tarrying in Jerusalem, - and Joab smote Rabbah, and overthrew it. And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it weighed a talent of gold, and, therein, were precious stones, and it was set on the head of David, - and, the spoil of the city, brought he forth, in great abundance;


But David took not the number of them, from twenty years old, and under, - because Yahweh had said, he would multiply Israel like the stars of the heavens. Joab son of Zeruiah, began to number, but finished not, when there arose, on this account, indignation against Israel, - neither did the number come up into the account of the chronicles of King David.

Notwithstanding, the word of the king prevailed against Joab, and over the captains of the force, - so Joab went forth, with the captains of the force, before the king, to number the people - Israel. And they passed over the Jordan, - and encamped in Aroer, on the right side of the city, that is in the midst of the ravine of Gad, even towards Jazer. Thus came they to Gilead, and unto the land of Tahtim-hodshi, - and came to Dan-jaan, and round about Zidon; read more.
and entered the fortress of Tyre, and all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites, - and they went out to the South of Judah, even to Beer-sheba. So, when they had gone to and fro throughout all the land, they came, at the end of nine months and twenty days, unto Jerusalem. And Joab delivered up the sum of the number of the people, unto the king, - and there were found to be, in Israel, eight hundred thousand men of valour, drawing the sword, - and, the men of Judah, five hundred thousand men.

But, the word of the king, prevailed against Joab, - and Joab departed, and went to and fro throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. And Joab delivered the sum of the number of the people, unto David, - and all Israel was found to be a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand men, who drew sword, and Judah, four hundred and seventy thousand men, who drew sword.


Moreover also, thou, knowest what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with two generals of the armies of Israel - with Abner son of Ner, and with Amasa son of Jether - both of whom he slew, shedding the blood of war in peace, - and putting the blood of war upon his girdle that was on his loins, and upon his sandals, that were on his feet.

So Abner returned to Hebron, and Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate, to speak with him quietly, - and then smote him there, in the belly, that he died, for the blood of Asahel the brother of Joab.

And, Joab son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out from Hebron and met, by the pool of Gibeon, together, - and they sat down, these, by the pool, on the one side, and, those, by the pool, on the other side. Then said Abner unto Joab, Let the young men arise, I pray thee, and make sport before us. And Joab said - Let them arise. Then there arose, and went over by number, - twelve of Benjamin, pertaining to Ish-bosheth, son of Saul, and twelve, of the servants of David. read more.
And they caught every one his fellow by the head, with his sword in his fellow's side, so they fell, together, - and that place was called Helkath-hazzadim, which is in Gideon. So the battle became exceeding obstinate, on that day, - and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated before the servants of David. Now there were there, three sons of Zeruiah, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel, - and, Asahel, was light of foot as a wild gazelle. And Asahel pursued Abner, - and turned not, in going, to the right hand or to the left, from pursuing Abner. Then Abner looked behind him, and said - Art thou Asahel? And he said - I am. Then 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 pursuing him. And Abner said, yet again, unto Asahel, Turn thee aside from pursuing me, - wherefore should I smite thee to the earth? how then should I lift up my face unto Joab, thy brother? Howbeit he refused to turn aside, wherefore Abner smote him with the hinder end of the spear, in the belly, that the spear came out behind him, and he fell there, and died on the spot, - and so it was, that, as many as came up to the place where Asahel fell and died, stood still. Then Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, - but, the sun, had gone in by the time, they, had come as far as the hill of Ammah, that overlooketh Giah, by way of the wilderness of Gibeon. And, when the sons of Benjamin had gathered themselves together after Abner, and become one band, - and had taken their stand on the top of a certain hill, then Abner cried aloud unto Joab, and said - To the uttermost, must the sword devour? Dost thou not well know that, bitter, shall it be, in the latter end? How long, then, wilt thou not bid the people turn back from pursuing their own brethren? Then said Joab - As God liveth, surely, if thou hadst not spoken, then in the morning, the people would of themselves have gone up, every man from pursuing his brother. So Joab blew with the horn, and all the people stood still, and they neither pursued Israel further, - nor fought any more. And, Abner and his men, journeyed through the waste plain all that night, - and crossed the Jordan, and went through all the Bithron, and entered Mahanaim. And, Joab, returned from pursuing Abner, and, when he had gathered together all the people, there were missing of the servants of David - nineteen men, and Asahel; but, the servants of David, had smitten of Benjamin, of the men of Abner, - so that three hundred and sixty men, had died. And they carried Asahel, and buried him in the grave of his father, which was in Bethlehem, - and Joab and his men journeyed all the night, and had daylight in Hebron.


And, when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of heroes, And the sons of Ammon came out, and set in array for battle, at the entrance of the gate, - whereas, the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and of Maacah, were by themselves, in the field. And, when Joab saw that the front of the battle was towards him, before and behind, he chose out of all the chosen men of Israel, and set them in array against the Syrians; read more.
while, the rest of the people, he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, - and set them in array against the sons of Ammon. And he said - If the Syrians be too strong for me, then shalt thou become my deliverance, - but, if, the sons of Ammon, be too strong for thee, then will I come with deliverance to thee. Be strong, and let us put forth our strength, for the sake of our people, and for the sake of the cities of our God, - and, Yahweh, do what is good in his own eyes. And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, to fight against the Syrians, - and they fled before him. And, when, the sons of Ammon, saw that the Syrians had fled, then fled they before Abishai, and entered the city, - so Joab returned from the sons of Ammon, and entered Jerusalem.

And, when the sons of Ammon saw, that they had made themselves odious with David, Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver, to hire for themselves - out of Mesopotamia, and out of Aram-maacah, and out of Zobah, - chariots, and horsemen. So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah, and his people, who came and pitched before Medeba, - and the sons of Ammon gathered themselves together out of their cities, and entered into the war. Now, when David heard, he sent Joab and all the army of heroes. read more.
And the sons of Ammon came out, and set in array for the battle, at the opening of the city, - whereas, the kings who had come, were by themselves, in the field. So, when Joab saw that the battle confronted him, before and behind, - he chose out of all the choice in Israel, and set in array to meet the Syrians; and, the rest of the people, delivered he into the hand of Abishai his brother, - and they set in array, to meet the sons of Ammon. And he said - If, too strong for me, be the Syrians, then shalt thou come to my help, - but, if, the sons of Ammon, be too strong for thee, then will I help thee. Be strong, and let us put forth our strength, for the sake of our people, and for the sake of the cities of our God, - and let, Yahweh, do, what is good in his own eyes. Then did Joab, and all the people who were with him, draw near before the Syrians unto the battle, - and they fled from before him. And, when, the sons of Ammon, saw that the Syrians had fled, then fled, they also, from before Abishai his brother, and entered the city, - and Joab came to Jerusalem.


Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah, son of Jehiel, and, with him, two hundred and eighteen males;

The sons of Pahath-moab, belonging to the sons of Jeshua, Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve;

The sons of Pahath-moab, belonging to the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand, eight hundred, and eighteen;


Moreover also, thou, knowest what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with two generals of the armies of Israel - with Abner son of Ner, and with Amasa son of Jether - both of whom he slew, shedding the blood of war in peace, - and putting the blood of war upon his girdle that was on his loins, and upon his sandals, that were on his feet.

When, they, were by the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa, had arrived before them. Now, Joab, was girded about with his war-coat as his upper garment, and, over it, a girdle with a sword, fastened upon his loins, in the sheath thereof, and, it, came out and fell. Then said Joab unto Amasa, Art thou, well, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand, to kiss him. Amasa not heeding the sword that was in the hand of Joab, he smote him therewith in the belly, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again, and he died. So, Joab and Abishai his brother, pursued Sheba son of Bichri. read more.
Now, a man, stood over him, of the young men of Joab, - and said - Whosoever is well pleased with Joab, and whosoever pertaineth to David, let him follow Joab. But, Amasa, was wallowing in blood, in the midst of the highway, - and, when the man saw that all the people stood still, he moved Amasa, out of the highway into the field, and cast over him a garment, as soon as he saw that every man that came up to him stood still. When he had removed him out of the highway, every man passed on, after Joab, to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.


Then said Joab unto the king - Yea, Yahweh thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, a hundredfold, and suffer the eyes of my lord the king, to see it, - but, my lord the king, wherefore doth he find pleasure in this thing?

Then said Joab, May Yahweh add unto his people, as many as they are, a hundred times, but are they not, my lord O king, all of them my lord's, as servants? wherefore should my lord seek this? wherefore should it become guilt to Israel?


Now Absolom had appointed, Amasa, instead of Joab, over the army, - Amasa, being the son of a man whose name was Ithra the Ishmaelite, who went in unto Abigail, daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, mother of Joab.

And, unto Amasa, shall ye say, Art not, thou, my bone and my flesh? So, let God do to me, and, so, let him add, if thou become not, prince of the army, before me continually, instead of Joab.


So then he had speech with Joab, son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest, - and they gave help, following Adonijah.

And, the report, came unto Joab, for, Joab, had inclined after Adonijah, although, after Solomon, he had not inclined, - so then Joab fled into the Tent of Yahweh, and laid hold of the horns of the altar.


Then sent Absolom unto Joab, to send him unto the king, but he would not come to him, - so he sent yet a second time, but he would not come. Then said he unto his servants - See, the allotted portion of Joab, adjoineth me, and, he, hath barley there, go, and set it on fire. So the servants of Absolom set the portion on fire. Then rose Joab, and went unto Absolom, in his house, - and said unto him, Wherefore, have thy servants set the portion that pertaineth to me, on fire? read more.
And Absolom said unto Joab - Lo! I sent unto thee, saying - Come hither, that I may send thee unto the king, saying - Wherefore, am I come from Geshur? I, might as well have yet been there. Now, therefore, let me see the face of the king, and, if there is in me iniquity, then let him put me to death. So Joab came unto the king, and told him, and the king called for Absolom, and he came in unto the king, and bowed himself down with his face to the ground, before the king, - and the king kissed Absolom.


Then cried a wise woman out of the city, - Hear ye! hear ye! I pray you, say unto Joab, Come near hither, and let me speak unto thee. So he came near unto her, and the woman said, - Art thou Joab? And he said, - I am. And she said unto him, - Hear thou the words of thy handmaid. And he said, I do hear. Then spake she, saying, - They, used to speak, in former times, saying, Enquire, in Abel! And, so, they ended it. read more.
I, am of the peaceable among the faithful in Israel, - thou, art seeking to put to death a city, and a mother in Israel, wherefore wouldst thou swallow up the inheritance of Yahweh? Then answered Joab and said, - Far be it! far be it from me! I will neither swallow up nor lay waste. Not so, is the matter! but, a man of the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba son of Bichri, his name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David, give up him alone, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Lo! his head, shall be cast unto thee, through the wall. So the woman came unto all the people in her wisdom, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri, and cast it out unto Joab. And he blew with a horn, and they dispersed themselves from the city, every man to his home; but, Joab, returned to Jerusalem unto the king.


And Joab, son of Zeruiah, perceived that the heart of the king was towards Absolom. So Joab sent to Tekoa, and fetched from thence, a wise woman, - and said unto her - I pray thee, feign thyself a mourner, and put on, I pray thee, mourning apparel, and do not anoint thyself with oil, but be as a woman that hath, these many days, been mourning for the dead; so shalt thou come in unto the king, and speak unto him, after this manner. And Joab put the words in her mouth. read more.
And, when the woman of Tekoa came in unto the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did homage, - and said - Save, O king! And the king said to her - What aileth thee? And she said - Of a truth, a widow woman, am I, for my husband is dead. Now, thy maidservant, had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, with none to tear them apart, - so the one smote the other, and slew him. Lo! therefore, all the family hath risen up against thy maidservant, and have said: Give up him that hath smitten his brother, that we may put him to death, for the life of his brother, whom he hath slain, that we may destroy, the heir also. So will they quench my ember that is left, and make my husband without name or remainder, on the face of the ground. And the king said unto the woman - Go to thy house, and, I, will give command concerning thee. Then said the woman of Tekoa unto the king, Upon me, my lord, O king, be the iniquity, and upon the house of my father, - but, the king and his throne, be guiltless. And the king said, - He that speaketh unto thee, bring him in unto me, and he shall, no more, annoy thee. Then said she: Let the king, I pray thee, remember Yahweh thy God; so that the blood-redeemer may not make utter ruin, and that they destroy not my son. And he said - By the life of Yahweh, not one hair of thy son shall fall to the earth. Then said the woman, Pray let thy maidservant speak unto my lord the king, a word. And he said - Speak. And the woman said, Wherefore, then, hast thou devised the like of this, for the people of God; and yet the king, in speaking this word, is verily guilty, unless the king, bring back his fugitive? For, when we, die, we become as water poured on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again, - therefore doth God not take away the life, but deviseth plans so as not to thrust out from him, a fugitive. Now, therefore, is it that I have come to speak unto the king my lord this word, because the people kept putting me in fear, - so thy maidservant said - Do let me, I pray you, speak unto the king! peradventure the king will fulfil the request of his handmaid. For the king can hearken, to rescue his handmaid out of the power of the man who would seek to destroy both me and my son together, out of the inheritance of God. So thy maidservant said, Pray let the word of my lord the king be comforting, - for, as the messenger of God, so is my lord the king, in hearing the good and the bad, Yahweh thy God, then, be with thee. Then responded the king, and said unto the woman, Nay, now! do not hide from me, the thing which I am about to ask thee. And the woman said, Pray let my lord the king speak. Then said the king, Is, the hand of Joab, with thee, in all this? And the woman answered and said - By the life of thy soul, my lord, O king, there is no way to the right or to the left, of anything that my lord the king hath spoken, for, thy servant Joab himself, charged me, and, himself, put, in the mouth of thy maidservant, all these words: for the purpose of turning round the face of the matter, hath thy servant Joab done this thing, - my lord being wise, as with the wisdom of a messenger of God, in knowing all that is done in the land. Then said the king unto Joab, See, I pray thee, I a have done this thing, - go then - bring back the young man, Absolom. So Joab fell with his face to the earth, and did homage, and blessed the king, - and Joab said - To-day, doth thy servant know, that I have found favour in thine eyes, my lord O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of thy servant. And Joab arose, and went to Geshur, - and brought Absolom to Jerusalem. And the king said - Let him go round to his own house, and, my face, let him not see. So Absolom went round, unto his own house, and, the face of the king, saw he not.


And it was told King Solomon - Joab hath fled into the Tent of Yahweh, and, there he is, beside the altar. So Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying - Go fall upon him! And Benaiah came into the Tent of Yahweh, and said unto him - Thus, saith the king, Come forth! And he said - Nay! but, here, will I die! So Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus, spake Joab, and, thus, he answered me. And the king said to him - Do as he hath spoken, fall, then, upon him, and bury him, - and so put away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from off me, and from off the house of my father; read more.
thus will Yahweh bring back his blood upon his own head, in that he fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing it, - even Abner son of Ner, general of the army of Israel, and Amasa son of Jether, general of the army of Judah; thus shall their blood come back upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed unto times age-abiding, - but, David and his seed, and his house, and his throne, shall have peace, unto times age-abiding, from Yahweh. So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and put him to death, - and he was buried in his own house, in the wilderness.


And it was told Joab, - Lo! the king, is weeping and mourning over Absolom. So the victory, on that day, was turned into mourning, with all the people, - for the people heard, on that day, saying, The king is distressed for his son. And the people stole away, on that day, to go into the city, - as people steal away who are put to shame, when they flee in battle. read more.
But, the king, muffled his face, and the king made outcry, with a loud voice, - O my son Absolom, O Absolom, my son, my son! Then came Joab unto the king, in the house, - and said - Thou hast, to-day, covered with shame the faces of all thy servants, who have rescued thy life to-day, and the lives of thy sons and thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; by loving them who hated thee, and hating them who loved thee, - for thou hast declared, to-day, that, nothing to thee, are princes or servants, for I perceive, to-day, that, if, Absolom, had lived, and, all we, to-day had died, that, then, it had been right in thine eyes. Now, therefore, rise - go forth, and speak unto the heart of thy servants, - for, by Yahweh, have I sworn, that, if thou do not go forth, not a man shall tarry with thee to-night, and this will be to thee, a greater misfortune, than all the misfortune that hath come upon thee from thy youth until now. So the king arose, and took his seat in the gate, - and, to all the people, was it told, saying - Lo! the king, is sitting in the gate. Then came all the people before the king, but, Israel, had fled every man to his home.


And, all that Samuel the seer, and Saul son of Kish, and Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah, had hallowed, whosoever had hallowed anything, it was under the direction of Shelomoth, and his brethren.


for, six months, did Joab remain there, with all Israel, - until he had cut off every male in Edom,


And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites, first, shall become a chief, and a ruler, - So then Joab son of Zeruiah, went up first, and became a chief.


And, Meonothai, begat Ophrah, - and, Seraiah, begat Joab, the father of Ge-harashim, for they were, craftsmen.


The sons of Salma, were Bethlehem, and the Netophathites, Atrothbeth-joab, - and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites;


And, their sisters, were Zeruiah and Abigail, - and, the sons of Zeruiah, Abishai and Joab and Asahel, three,




Then came Joab unto the king, in the house, - and said - Thou hast, to-day, covered with shame the faces of all thy servants, who have rescued thy life to-day, and the lives of thy sons and thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; by loving them who hated thee, and hating them who loved thee, - for thou hast declared, to-day, that, nothing to thee, are princes or servants, for I perceive, to-day, that, if, Absolom, had lived, and, all we, to-day had died, that, then, it had been right in thine eyes.


And the king said to him - Do as he hath spoken, fall, then, upon him, and bury him, - and so put away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from off me, and from off the house of my father; thus will Yahweh bring back his blood upon his own head, in that he fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing it, - even Abner son of Ner, general of the army of Israel, and Amasa son of Jether, general of the army of Judah;


Be strong, and let us put forth our strength, for the sake of our people, and for the sake of the cities of our God, - and, Yahweh, do what is good in his own eyes.


Then said Joab, May Yahweh add unto his people, as many as they are, a hundred times, but are they not, my lord O king, all of them my lord's, as servants? wherefore should my lord seek this? wherefore should it become guilt to Israel?


So Abner returned to Hebron, and Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate, to speak with him quietly, - and then smote him there, in the belly, that he died, for the blood of Asahel the brother of Joab.