So there was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.

In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

Just then all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, "Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king, his household, and all David's men with him across the Jordan?"

And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, "We have ten shares in the king; therefore we also have more [right] to David than you. Why then do you despise us -- were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?" Yet the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

[Though they join] forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.

My son, fear the LORD and the king; Do not associate with those given to change;

Then Abner called to Joab and said, "Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the latter end? How long will it be then until you tell the people to return from pursuing their brethren?"

But the servants of David had struck down, of Benjamin and Abner's men, three hundred and sixty men who died.

And the children of Israel fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hand.

Then Abijah and his people struck them with a great slaughter; so five hundred thousand choice men of Israel fell slain.

For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed one hundred and twenty thousand in Judah in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.