2Sa 10:6-19, 16:5-14, 17:1-14, Psa 144:7-8 | ESV | STEP | When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David , the Ammonites sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob , and the Syrians of Zobah , 20,000 foot soldiers , and the king of Maacah with 1,000 men , and the men of Tob , 12,000 men .

6 When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Syrians of ^aBeth-rehob, and ^bthe Syrians of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of ^cMaacah with 1,000 men, and the men of ^dTob, 12,000 men. 7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of ^ethe mighty men. 8 And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate, and ^fthe Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob and ^gthe men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.

9 When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians. 10 The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites. 11 And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12 ^hBe of good courage, and ⁱlet us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and ^jmay the Lord do what seems good to him.” 13 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 14 And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

15 But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16 And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond ^kthe Euphrates. ^{▼▼Hebrew the River} They came to Helam, with ^mShobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. 17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to Helam. The Syrians arrayed themselves against David and fought with him. 18 And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 700 chariots, and 40,000 horsemen, and wounded ⁿShobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. 19 And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel ^oand became subject to them. So the Syrians were afraid to save the Ammonites anymore.

2 Samuel 16:5-14

Shimei Curses David

5 When King David came to ^pBahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was ^qShimei, the son of Gera, and as he came ^rhe cursed continually. 6 And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 And Shimei said as he ^scursed, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! 8 The Lord ^thas avenged on you all ^uthe blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood.”

9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this ^vdead dog ^wcurse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.” 10 But the king said, ^x“What have I to do with you, ^yyou sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11 And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, ^zmy own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12 It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me, ^{▼▼Septuagint, Vulgate will look upon my affliction} and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today.” 13 So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and ^abcursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust. 14 And the king, and all the people who were with him, ^acarrived weary at the Jordan. ^{▼▼Septuagint; Hebrew lacks at the Jordan} And there he refreshed himself.

2 Samuel 17:1-14

Hushai Saves David

1 Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. 2 I will come upon him while he is ^aeweary and discouraged and throw him into a panic, and all the people who are with him will flee. ^afI will strike down only the king, 3 and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to her husband. You seek the life of only one man, ^{▼▼Septuagint; Hebrew back to you. Like the return of the whole is the man whom you seek} and all the people will be at peace.” 4 And the advice seemed right in the eyes of Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

5 Then Absalom said, “Call ^ahHushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he has to say.” 6 And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him, “Thus has Ahithophel spoken; shall we do as he says? If not, you speak.” 7 Then Hushai said to Absalom, “This time the counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good.” 8 Hushai said, “You know that your father and his men are mighty men, and that they are enraged, ^{▼▼Hebrew bitter of soul} ^ajlike a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Besides, your father is expert in war; he will not spend the night with the people. 9 Behold, even now he has hidden himself in one of the pits or in some other place. And as soon as some of the people fall ^{▼▼Or And as he falls on them} at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ 10 Then even the valiant man, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will utterly ^almelt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and that those who are with him are valiant men. 11 But my counsel is that all Israel be gathered to you, ^amfrom Dan to Beersheba, ^anas the sand by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person. 12 So we shall come upon him in some place where he is to be found, and we shall light upon him as the dew falls on the ground, and of him and all the men with him not one will be left. 13 If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we shall drag it into the valley, until not even a pebble is to be found there.” 14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” ^aoFor the Lord had ordained ^{▼▼Hebrew commanded} to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom.

Psalms 144:7-8

7 ^aqStretch out your hand from on high;
^arrescue me and deliver me from the many waters,
from the hand ^asof foreigners,
8 whose mouths speak ^atlies
and whose right hand is ^aua right hand of falsehood.