⁹ (Formerly in Israel, if someone went to inquire^(A) of God, they would say, “Come, let us go to the seer,” because the prophet of today used to be called a seer.)^(B)

⁹ Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans. ¹⁰ He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai^(A) his brother and deployed them against the Ammonites. ¹¹ Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to come to my rescue; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to rescue you. ¹² Be strong,^(B) and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.”^(C)

¹³ Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him. ¹⁴ When the Ammonites^(D) realized that the Arameans were fleeing, they fled before Abishai and went inside the city. So Joab returned from fighting the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

⁵⁵ As Saul watched David^(A) going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, “Abner,^(B) whose son is that young man?”

Abner replied, “As surely as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know.”

⁴⁷ After Saul had assumed rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every side: Moab,^(A) the Ammonites,^(B) Edom,^(C) the kings^[a] of Zobah,^(D) and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them.^{[b] 48} He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites,^(E) delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them.

Saul’s Family

⁴⁹ Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua.^(F) The name of his older daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal.^{(G) 50} His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of Saul’s army was Abner^(H) son of Ner, and Ner was Saul’s uncle.^{(I) 51} Saul’s father Kish^(J) and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.