n, and the multitude followed and spoiled their dead bodies.
The third was Sheba, the son of Ilus. Now this man, when, in the wars
against the Philistines, they pitched their camp at a place called Lehi,
and when the Hebrews were again afraid of their army, and did not stay,
he stood still alone, as an army and a body of men; and some of them he
overthrew, and some who were not able to abide his strength and force he
pursued. These are the works of the hands, and of fighting, which these
three performed. Now at the time when the king was once at Jerusalem,
and the army of the Philistines came upon him to fight him, David went
up to the top of the citadel, as we have already said, to inquire of
God concerning the battle, while the enemy's camp lay in the valley that
extends to the city Bethlehem, which is twenty furlongs distant from
Jerusalem. Now David said to his companions, "We have excellent water
in my own city, especially that which is in the pit near the gate,"
wondering if any one would bring him some of it to drink; but he said
that he would rather have it than a great deal of money. When these
three men heard what he said, they ran away immediately, and burst
through the midst of their enemy's camp, and came to Bethlehem; and when
they had drawn the water, they returned again through the enemy's camp
to the king, insomuch that the Philistines were so surprised at their
boldness and alacrity, that they were quiet, and did nothing against
them, as if they despised their small number. But when the water was
brought to the king, he would not drink it, saying, that it was brought
by the danger and the blood of men, and that it was not proper on that
account to drink it. But he poured it out to God, and gave him thanks
for the salvation of the men. Next to these was Abishai, Joab's brother;
for he in one day slew six hundred. The fifth of these was Benaiah,
by lineage a priest; for being challenged by [two] eminent men in the
country of Moab, he overcame them by his valor, Moreover, there was a
man, by nation an Egyptian, who was of a vast bulk, and challenged him,
yet did he, when he was unarmed, kill him with his own spear, which
he threw at him; for he caught him by force, and took away his weapons
while he was alive and fighting, and slew him with his own weapons. One
may also add this to the forementioned actions of the same man, either
as the principal of them in alacrity, or as resembling the rest. When
God sen