The Benjaminites formed their ranks<n id="1" /> behind Abner and were like a single army, standing at the top of a certain hill.p>

He then handed out to each member of the entire assembly of Israel,<n id="1" /> both men and women, a portion of bread, a date cake,<n id="2" /> and a raisin cake. Then all the people went home.<n id="3" />

Absalom had<n id="1" /> three sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a very attractive woman.<n id="2" />p>

&#8220;Go, tell David, &#8216;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> says: I am offering you three forms of judgment. Pick one of them and I will carry it out against you.&#8217;&#8221;p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">So the <sc>Lordsc> sent Nathan<n id="1" /> to David. When he came to David,<n id="2" /> Nathan<n id="3" /> said,<n id="4" /> &#8220;There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.

But the poor man had nothing except for a little lamb he had acquired. He raised it, and it grew up alongside him and his children.<n id="1" /> It used to<n id="2" /> eat his food,<n id="3" /> drink from his cup, and sleep in his arms.<n id="4" /> It was just like a daughter to him.p>

Joab replied to the man who was telling him this, &#8220;What! You saw this? Why didn&#8217;t you strike him down right on the spot?<n id="1" /> I would have given you ten pieces of silver<n id="2" /> and a commemorative belt!&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">These are the names of David&#8217;s warriors:p> <p class="bodytext">Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was head of the officers.<n id="1" /> He killed eight hundred men with his spear in one battle.<n id="2" />