Once a group of men from the tribes of Benjamin and Judah went out to the fort where David was.

At that time David was on a fortified hill, and a group of Philistines had occupied Bethlehem.

David stayed in hiding in the hill country, in the wilderness near Ziph. Saul was always trying to find him, but God did not turn David over to him.

David left and went to the region of Engedi, where he stayed in hiding.

David promised that he would. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went back to their hiding place.

King Amaziah organized all the men of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin into army units, according to the clans they belonged to, and placed officers in command of units of a thousand and units of a hundred. This included all men twenty years of age or older, 300,000 in all. They were picked troops, ready for battle, skilled in using spears and shields.

Command the horses to go and the chariots to roll! Send out the soldiers: men from Ethiopia and Libya, carrying shields, and skilled archers from Lydia.' "

Benaiah son of Jehoiada from Kabzeel was a famous soldier; he did many brave deeds, including killing two great Moabite warriors. He once went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

"Saul and Jonathan, so wonderful and dear; together in life, together in death; swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.

Then even the bravest men, as fearless as lions, will be afraid because everyone in Israel knows that your father is a great soldier and that his men are hard fighters.

Benaiah son of Jehoiada from Kabzeel was another famous soldier; he did many brave deeds, including killing two great Moabite warriors. He once went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

The wicked run when no one is chasing them, but an honest person is as brave as a lion.

The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel, who could run as fast as a wild deer,

Get out of the trap like a bird or a deer escaping from a hunter.

Come to me, my lover, like a gazelle, like a young stag on the mountains where spices grow.