¹⁸ The three sons of Zeruiah^(A) were there: Joab,^(B) Abishai^(C) and Asahel.^(D) Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle.^(E)

³⁹ And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah^(A) are too strong^(B) for me.^(C) May the Lord repay^(D) the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”

⁹ Then Abishai^(A) son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog^(B) curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”^(C)

¹⁰ But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah?^(D) If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”^(E)

¹¹ David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son,^(F) my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.^(G)

²⁵ Absalom had appointed Amasa^(A) over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of Jether,^[a](B) an Ishmaelite^[b] who had married Abigail,^[c] the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab.