Study Desk

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, "You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel."

These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

Psalm 18:1-50">[xr] Then David spoke to the LORD the words of this song, on the day when the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.

In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry entered His ears.

Smoke went up from His nostrils, And devouring fire from His mouth; Coals were kindled by it.

He bowed the heavens also, and came down With darkness under His feet.

"The LORD thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice.

Then the channels of the sea were seen, The foundations of the world were uncovered, At the rebuke of the LORD, At the blast of the breath of His nostrils.

For all His judgments were before me; And as for His statutes, I did not depart from them.

Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness,According to my cleanness in His eyes. Psalms 18:24); Targum reads my cleanness before His word. ">[fn]

As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

God is my strength and power, Psalms 18:32); Targum reads It is God who sustains me with strength. ">[fn] And He makes my Psalms 18:32); Kethib reads His.">[fn] way perfect.

He makes my Psalms 18:33); Kethib reads His.">[fn] feet like the feet of deer,And sets me on my high places.

He is the tower of salvation to His king, And shows mercy to His anointed, To David and his descendants forevermore."

"The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue.

He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder.

Now Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of another three. [fn] He lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three.

And he killed an Egyptian, a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; so he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.

He was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him over his guard.

And David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man."