So the men did as instructed. They took two cows that had calves and harnessed them to a cart; they also removed their calves to their stalls.

A man who was from there replied, “And who is their father?” Therefore this became a proverb: “Is even Saul among the prophets?”

Samuel said, “Just as your sword left women childless, so your mother will be the most bereaved among women!” Then Samuel hacked Agag to pieces there in Gilgal before the Lord.

So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to confront the Philistines. Therefore that place is called Sela Hammahlekoth.

Afterward David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off an edge of Saul’s robe.

In the same way that I valued your life this day, may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all danger.”

God will severely judge Abner if I do not do for David exactly what the Lord has promised him,

When David later heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord of the shed blood of Abner son of Ner!

David did just as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.

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!

Later David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. David took Metheg Ammah from the Philistines.

Now David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. In the course of time David’s son Amnon fell madly in love with her.

But she said to him, “No, my brother! Don’t humiliate me! This just isn’t done in Israel! Don’t do this foolish thing!

(Now she was wearing a long robe, for this is what the king’s virgin daughters used to wear.) So Amnon’s attendant removed her and bolted the door behind her.

Moreover, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”

Joab replied, “I will not wait around like this for you!” He took three spears in his hand and thrust them into the middle of Absalom while he was still alive in the middle of the oak tree.

Later there was another battle with the Philistines, this time in Gob. On that occasion Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the descendants of Rapha.

Benaiah son of Jehoiada responded to the king: “So be it! May the Lord God of my master the king confirm it!

As the Lord is with my master the king, so may he be with Solomon, and may he make him an even greater king than my master King David!”

“Treat fairly the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and provide for their needs, because they helped me when I had to flee from your brother Absalom.