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" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Later there was a battle<n id="1" /> with the Philistines in Gezer.<n id="2" /> At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Sippai,<n id="3" /> one of the descendants of the Rephaim, and the Philistines<n id="4" /> were subdued.p>

<p class="bodytext">There was another battle with the Philistines in which Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite,<n id="1" /> whose spear had a shaft as big as the crossbeam of a weaver&#8217;s loom.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="bodytext">In a battle in Gath<n id="1" /> there was a large man who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot &#8211; twenty-four in all! He too was a descendant of Rapha.

But God said to me, &#8216;You must not build a temple to honor me,<n id="1" /> for you are a warrior and have spilled blood.&#8217;

Solomon did not assign Israelites to these work crews;<n id="1" /> the Israelites served as his soldiers, officers, charioteers, and commanders of his chariot forces.<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">The events of Rehoboam&#8217;s reign, from start to finish, are recorded<n id="1" /> in the Annals of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer that include genealogical records.

He ruled for three years in Jerusalem.<n id="1" /> His mother was Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel from Gibeah.<n id="2" />p> <p class="bodytext">There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

<p class="bodytext">He built fortified cities throughout Judah, for the land was at rest and there was no war during those years; the <sc>Lordsc> gave him peace.

While the battle raged throughout the day, the king stood propped up in his chariot opposite the Syrians. He died in the evening as the sun was setting.p>

Even if you go and fight bravely in battle, God will defeat you<n id="1" /> before the enemy. God is capable of helping or defeating.&#8221;<n id="2" />

The rest of the events of Jotham&#8217;s reign, including all his military campaigns and his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll of the kings of Israel and Judah.<n id="1" />

<p class="bodytext">He appointed military officers over the army<n id="1" /> and assembled them in the square at the city gate. He encouraged them,<n id="2" /> saying,

He has with him mere human strength,<n id="1" /> but the <sc>Lordsc> our God is with us to help us and fight our battles!&#8221; The army<n id="2" /> was encouraged by the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.p>

<p class="poetry">Even when an army is deployed against me,p> <p class="poetry">I do not fear.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Even when war is imminent,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">I remain confident.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">He brings an end to wars throughout the earth;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">he shatters<n id="2" /> the bow and breaks<n id="3" /> the spear;p> <p class="poetry">he burns<n id="4" /> the shields with fire.<n id="5" />p>

<n id="1" /><p class="poetry">There is a loud noise on the mountains &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">it sounds like a large army!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">There is great commotion among the kingdoms<n id="3" /> &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">nations are being assembled!p> <p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies is musteringp> <p class="poetry">forces for battle.p>

<p class="poetry">For they flee from the swords &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">from the drawn swordp> <p class="poetry">and from the battle-ready bowp> <p class="poetry">and from the severity of the battle.p>

<p class="poetry">The noisy city is full of raucous sounds;p> <p class="poetry">the town is filled with revelry.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Your slain were not cut down by the sword;p> <p class="poetry">they did not die in battle.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Every blow from his punishing cudgel,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">with which the <sc>Lordsc> will beat them,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">will be accompanied by music from the<n id="3" /> tambourine and harp,p> <p class="poetry">and he will attack them with his weapons.<n id="4" />p>