Quotes About Strategy

David did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he said, “Otherwise they will report us, saying, ëThis is what David did.í” And this was Davidís custom the whole time he lived in Philistine territory.

The Philistines came together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.

As the Philistine leaders marched out their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish.

But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men?

So Joab son of Zeruiah, along with the servants of David, marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. And the two camps took up positions on opposite sides of the pool.

Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” “Let them get up,” Joab replied.

and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit.

So Abner told him, “Turn to your right or to your left, seize one of the young men, and take his equipment for yourself.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.

But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.

The Benjamites rallied to Abner, formed a single unit, and took their stand atop a hill.

So Joab blew the ramís horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight.

And all that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning, and arrived at Mahanaim.

When Joab returned from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel, nineteen of Davidís servants were missing,

but they had struck down 360 Benjamites who were with Abner.

Abner also spoke to the Benjamites and went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.

So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away!

Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.”

As soon as Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David was unaware of it.

Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.

David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers, and twenty thousand foot soldiers, and he hamstrung all the horses except a hundred he kept for the chariots.

Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?”