Joab

David built up the city around it, starting at the Millo [earth rampart] and going on around; while Yo'av repaired the rest of the city.

Avishai the brother of Yo'av was chief of these three. He raised his spear against 300 men and killed them; thus he had a reputation even among the three.

There were also these warrior-heroes: 'Asah'el the brother of Yo'av, Elchanan the son of Dodo, from Beit-Lechem,

Tzelek the 'Amoni, Nachrai the Be'eroti, armor-bearer of Yo'av the son of Tz'ruyah,

Yo'av the son of Tz'ruyah was commander of the army, Y'hoshafat the son of Achilud was chief adviser,

When David heard of it, he sent Yo'av with his entire army of trained soldiers.

When Yo'av saw that he would be fighting on two fronts, ahead and behind, he chose the best troops of Isra'el to deploy against Aram;

So Yo'av and the people with him went to engage Aram in battle, and they fled before him.

When the people of 'Amon saw that Aram had fled, they likewise fled before Avishai his brother and retreated into the city. Then Yo'av went to Yerushalayim.

In the spring, at the time when kings go out to war, Yo'av led the army out in force and laid waste to the country of the people of 'Amon; then he came and laid siege to Rabbah. But David stayed in Yerushalayim, while Yo'av attacked Rabbah and destroyed it.

David said to Yo'av and the leaders of the people, "Go, take a census of Isra'el from Be'er-Sheva to Dan; then report to me, so that I can know how many of them there are."

Yo'av said, "May ADONAI make his people a hundred times as many as they are now! But, my lord the king, aren't they all my lord's servants in any case? Why does my lord the king require this? Why should he bring guilt upon Isra'el?"

Nevertheless, the king's word prevailed against Yo'av. So Yo'av left and went through all Isra'el, after which he came to Yerushalayim.

Yo'av reported the results of the census to David: in Isra'el were 1,100,000 men who could handle a sword, while Y'hudah had 470,000 men who could handle a sword.

But he didn't count Levi and Binyamin among them, because the king's order was hateful to Yo'av.

Also included was all that Sh'mu'el the seer, Sha'ul the son of Kish, Avner the son of Ner and Yo'av the son of Tz'ruyah had dedicated. In short, if anyone had dedicated anything, Shlomit and his brothers were in charge of it.

The fourth commander, for the fourth month, was 'Asah'el the brother of Yo'av, with Z'vadyah his son after him; there were 24,000 in his division.

Yo'av the son of Tz'ruyah began a census of these, but he did not finish, and wrath came upon Isra'el because of this; moreover the number was not entered into the Annals of King David.

and after Achitofel were Y'hoyada the son of B'nayah and Evyatar. Yo'av was commander of the king's army.

For the leader. Set to "Lily of Testimony."A mikhtam of David for teaching about when he fought with Aram-Naharayim and with Aram-Tzovah, and Yo'av returned and killed 12,000 from Edom in the Salt Valley: God, you rejected us; you crushed us; you were angry; but now revive us.