dignity with himself about the king； and for the same cause it
was that he killed Abner。 But as to that former wicked action；
the death of his brother Asahel； which he seemed to revenge；
afforded him a decent pretense； and made that crime a pardonable
one； but in this murder of Amasa there was no such covering for
it。 Now when Joab had killed this general； he pursued after
Sheba； having left a man with the dead body； who was ordered to
proclaim aloud to the army； that Amasa was justly slain； and
deservedly punished。 〃But；〃 said he； 〃if you be for the king；
follow Joab his general； and Abishai； Joab's brother：〃 but
because the body lay on the road； and all the multitude came
running to it； and； as is usual with the multitude； stood
wondering a great while at it； he that guarded it removed it
thence； and carried it to a certain place that was very remote
from the road； and there laid it； and covered it with his
garment。 When this was done； all the people followed Joab。 Now as
he pursued Sheba through all the country of Israel； one told him
that he was in a strong city； called Abelbeth…maachah。 Hereupon
Joab went thither； and set about it with his army； and cast up a
bank round it； and ordered his soldiers to undermine the walls；
and to overthrow them； and since the people in the city did not
admit him； he was greatly displeased at them。
8。 Now there was a woman of small account； and yet both wise and
intelligent； who seeing her native city lying at the last
extremity； ascended upon the wall； and； by means of the armed
men； called for Joab； and when he came to her； she began to say；
That 〃God ordained kings and generals of armies； that they might
cut off the enemies of the Hebrews； and introduce a universal
peace among them； but thou art endeavoring to overthrow and
depopulate a metropolis of the Israelites； which hath been guilty
of no offense。〃 But he replied； 〃God continue to be merciful unto
me： I am disposed to avoid killing any one of the people； much
less would I destroy such a city as this； and if they will
deliver me up Sheba； the son of Bichri； who hath rebelled against
the king； I will leave off the siege； and withdraw the army from
the place。〃 Now as soon as the woman heard what Joab said； she
desired him to intermit the siege for a little while； for that he
should have the head of his enemy thrown out to him presently。 So
she went down to the citizens； and said to them； 〃Will you be so
wicked as to perish miserably； with your children and wives； for
the sake of a vile fellow； and one whom nobody knows who he is？
And will you have him for your king instead of David； who hath
been so great a benefactor to you； and oppose your city alone to
such a mighty and strong army？〃 So she prevailed with them； and
they cut off the head of Sheba； and threw it into Joab's army。
When this was done； the king's general sounded a retreat； and
raised the siege。 And when he was come to Jerusalem； he was again
appointed to be general of all the people。 The king also
constituted Benaiah captain of the guards； and of the six hundred
men。 He also set Adoram over the tribute； and Sabathes and
Achilaus over the records。 He made Sheva the scribe； and
appointed Zadok and Abiathar the high priests。
CHAPTER 12。
How The Hebrews Were Delivered From A Famine When The Gibeonites
Had Caused Punishment To Be Inflicted For Those Of Them That Had
Been Slain： As Also； What Great Actions Were Performed Against
The Philistines By David； And The Men Of Valor About Him。
1。 After this； when the country was greatly afflicted with a
famine； David besought God to have mercy on the people； and to
discover to him what was the cause of it； and how a remedy might
be found for that distemper。 And when the prophets answered； that
God would have the Gibeonites avenged whom Saul the king was so
wicked as to betray to slaughter； and had not observed the oath
which Joshua the general and the senate had sworn to them： If；
therefore； said God； the king would permit such vengeance to be
taken for those that were slain as the Gibeonites should desire；
he promised that he would be reconciled to them； and free the
multitude from their miseries。 As soon therefore as the king
understood that this it was which God sought； he sent for the
Gibeonites； and asked them what it was they should have； and when
they desired to have seven sons of Saul delivered to them to be
punished； he delivered them up； but spared Mephibosheth the son
of Jonathan。 So when the Gibeonites had received the men； they
punished them as they pleased； upon which God began to send rain；
and to recover the earth to bring forth its fruits as usual； and
to free it from the foregoing drought； so that the country of the
Hebrews flourished again。 A little afterward the king made war
against the Philistines； and when he had joined battle with them；
and put them to flight； he was left alone； as he was in pursuit
of them； and when he was quite tired down； he was seen by one of
the enemy； his name was Achmon； the son of Araph； he was one of
the sons of the giants。 He had a spear； the handle of which
weighed three hundred shekels； and a breastplate of chain…work；
and a sword。 He turned back； and ran violently to slay ＇David＇
their enemy's king； for he was quite tired out with labor； but
Abishai； Joab's brother； appeared on the sudden； and protected
the king with his shield； as he lay down； and slew the enemy。 Now
the multitude were very uneasy at these dangers of the king； and
that he was very near to be slain； and the rulers made him swear
that he would no more go out with them to battle； lest he should
come to some great misfortune by his courage and boldness； and
thereby deprive the people of the benefits they now enjoyed by
his means； and of those that they might hereafter enjoy by his
living a long time among them。
2。 When the king heard that the Philistines were gathered
together at the city Gazara； he sent an army against them； when
Sibbechai the Hittite； one of David's most courageous men；
behaved himself so as to deserve great commendation； for he slew
many of those that bragged they were the posterity of the giants；
and vaunted themselves highly on that account； and thereby was
the occasion of victory to the Hebrews。 After which defeat； the
Philistines made war again； and when David had sent an army
against them； Nephan his kinsman fought in a single combat with
the stoutest of all the Philistines； and slew him； and put the
rest to flight。 Many of them also were slain in the fight。 Now a
little while after this； the Philistines pitched their camp at a
city which lay not far off the bounds of the country of the
Hebrews。 They had a man who was six cubits tall； and had on each
of his feet and hands one more toe and finger than men naturally
have。 Now the person who was sent against them by David out of
his army was Jonathan； the son of Shimea； who fought this man in
a single combat； and slew him； and as he was the person who gave
the turn to the battle； he gained the greatest reputation for
courage therein。 This man also vaunted himself to be of the sons
of the giants。 But after this fight the Philistines made war no
more against the Israelites。
3。 And now David being freed from wars and dangers； and enjoying
for the future a profound peace； （22） composed songs and hymns to
God of several sorts of metre； some of those which he made were
trimeters； and some were pentameters。 He also made instruments of
music； and taught the Levites to sing hymns to God； both on that
called the sabbath day； and on other festivals。 Now the
construction of the instruments was thus： The viol was an
instrument of ten strings； it was played upon with a bow； the
psaltery had twelve musical notes； and was played upon by the
fingers； the cymbals were broad and large instruments； and were
made of brass。 And so much shall suffice to be spoken by us about
these instruments； that the readers may not be wholly
unacquainted with their nature。
4。 Now all the men that were about David were men of courage。
Those that were most illustrious and famous of them for their
actions were thirty…eight； of five of whom I will only relate the
performances； for these will suffice to make manifest the virtues
of the others also； for these were powerful enough to subdue
countries； and conquer great nations。 First； therefore； was
Jessai； the son of Achimaas； who frequently leaped upon the
troops of the enemy； and did not leave off fighting till he
overthrew nine hundred of them。 After him was Eleazar； the son of
Dodo； who was with the king at Arasam。 This man； when once the
Israelites were under a consternation at the multitude of the
Philistines； and were running away； stood alone； and fell upon
the enemy； and slew many of them； till his sword clung to his
band by the blood he had shed； and till the Israelites； seeing
the Philistines retire by his means； came down from the mountains
and pursued them； and at that time won a surprising and a famous
victory； while Eleazar slew the men； and the multitude followed
and spoiled their dead bodies。 The third was Sheba； the son of
Ilus。 Now this man； when； in the wars against the Philistines；
they pitched their camp at a place called Lehi； and when the
Hebrews were again afraid of their army； and did not stay； he
stood still alone； as an army and a body of men； and some of them
he overthrew； and some who were not able to abide his strength
and force he pursued。 These are the works of the hands； and of
fighting； which these three performed。 Now at the time when the
king was once at Jerusalem； and the army of the Philistines came
upon him to fight him； David went up to the top of the citadel；
as we have already said； to inquire of God concerning the battle；
while the enemy's camp lay in the valley that extends to the city
Bethlehem； which is twenty furlongs distant from Jerusalem。 Now
David said to his companions； 〃We have excellent water in my own
city； especially that which is in the pit near the gate；〃
wondering if any one would bring him some of it to drink； but he
said that he would rather have it than a great deal of money。
When these three men heard what he said； th