Yet another battle occurred in Gath. On that occasion there was a large man<n id="1" /> who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all! He too was a descendant of Rapha.

<t /><p class="bodytext">After the death of Saul,<n id="1" /> when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites,<n id="2" /> he stayed at Ziklag<n id="3" /> for two days.

Now be courageous<n id="1" /> and prove to be valiant warriors, for your lord Saul is dead. The people of Judah have anointed me as king over them.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Now the battle was very severe that day; Abner and the men of Israel were overcome by David&#8217;s soldiers.<n id="1" />

The three sons of Zeruiah were there &#8211; Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. (Now Asahel was as quick on his feet as one of the gazelles in the field.)

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>

However, the war was prolonged between the house of Saul and the house of David. David was becoming steadily stronger, while the house of Saul was becoming increasingly weaker.p>

All the people and all Israel realized on that day that the killing of Abner son of Ner was not done at the king&#8217;s instigation.<n id="1" />p>

When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, act decisively. For at that moment the <sc>Lordsc> is going before you to strike down the army<n id="1" /> of the Philistines.&#8221;

I have not lived in a house from the time I brought the Israelites up from Egypt to the present day. Instead, I was traveling with them and living in a tent.<n id="1" />

I was with you wherever you went, and I defeated<n id="1" /> all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth.<n id="2" />

You made Israel your very own people for all time.<n id="1" /> You, O <sc>Lordsc>, became their God.

so you may gain lasting fame,<n id="1" /> as people say,<n id="2" /> &#8216;The <sc>Lordsc> of hosts is God over Israel!&#8217; The dynasty<n id="3" /> of your servant David will be established before you,

Now, O sovereign <sc>Lordsc>, you are the true God!<n id="1" /> May your words prove to be true!<n id="2" /> You have made this good promise to your servant!<n id="3" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Later David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. David took Metheg Ammah<n id="1" /> from the Philistines.<n id="2" />

David placed garrisons in the territory of the Arameans of Damascus; the Arameans became David&#8217;s subjects and brought tribute. The <sc>Lordsc> protected<n id="1" /> David wherever he campaigned.<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul&#8217;s attendant, and said to him, &#8220;Everything that belonged to Saul and to his entire house I hereby give to your master&#8217;s grandson.

Messengers<n id="1" /> told David what had happened,<n id="2" /> so he summoned them, for the men were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, &#8220;Stay in Jericho<n id="3" /> until your beards have grown again; then you may come back.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel&#8217;s best men and deployed them against the Arameans.<n id="1" />

Joab<n id="1" /> said, &#8220;If the Arameans start to overpower me,<n id="2" /> you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you,<n id="3" /> I will come to your rescue.