It came to pass in the time of King David that he sent his captain Joab son of Zeruyah, a mighty man, to conquer the town of Rabbath of the children of Ammon. Joab, with twelve thousand chosen men of Israel, besieged the town for six months.

At the end of the six months, all the officers of the Israelitish army gathered themselves before Joab and said to him: "We have been camping here for a long time and have not accomplished anything, as we have not been able to capture the town, and the houses round about the city have been destroyed. Why shall we stay here any longer?"

Then he asked the officers: "What is your intention?"

And they replied: "Our intention is to return home, for we cannot accomplish anything by staying any longer."

Joab replied: "My dear brethren, you must not think of going back home without having accomplished our task, for surely all the nations will mock at us and will rise up against us. Listen to me and follow my advice. Throw me into the city with this tree, and continue your siege forty days longer. If by then you do not see blood running out of the town, then know that I am dead. Should you, however, see blood flowing from the town, know that I have killed most of the inhabitants. Then storm the town bravely, for we shall win it with the help of God. But I will not return to the king with empty hands. I will either capture the city or die before it."

When the captains heard this, they were much pleased. Then Joab took with him one thousand red gold florins and his good sword, and had himself cast into the town by means of a high tree. He fell upon his sword in front of a widow's house, and his sword broke in two pieces. The widow had a young married daughter, who found Joab lying in the courtyard. He was so weakened by the fall that he was almost dead. She carried him into the house and bathed him in water until he recovered consciousness. Then they asked him who he was and whence he had come. And Joab replied: "I am an Amalekite by birth. The Jews captured me and brought me before their captain, who ordered me to be thrown into the city. Therefore, I pray you, let me stay with you."

Thereupon he took ten gold florins out of his purse and gave them to her to buy him good food. Joab remained in the widow's house seven days. After seven days Joab wanted to visit the town and look around, but they would not let him go in his own clothes, but lent him other clothes. Then he went out and examined the town to see how strong it was, and he found therein no less than one hundred and forty market places, each one more beautiful than the other. He also examined all the gates, and came to the house of a sword-maker.

Joab went in and said to him: "Can you make another sword like this one, which I have broken?"

The sword-maker became frightened and astonished, and said: "I have never seen such a sword in all my life."

Joab said: "Make me a sword like this, I' will pay you well."

So he made him a good sword. But Joab took it in his hand and broke it in two. And he did the same with three other swords, which he broke one after another. Then the smith made one the like of which had never been seen before, much better and stronger than the one which Joab had originally.

Then Joab said to the smith: "Whom would you prefer to have me kill with this sword?"

The smith replied: "The captain of the Jews."

Then Joab said: "What is that thing behind you?"

As the smith turned to look, Joab cut off his head.

Then Joab said to the smith: "How do you feel?"

For his head had not been completely severed. The smith replied: "I feel as if cold snow were pressing on my neck."

Then Joab gave him another blow and sent the parts of the body flying in different directions. Then Joab went into a courtyard, in which there were five hundred strong men, well armed for battle. He killed them all and not one of them was left alive. Then sheathing his sword, he returned home. Soon there arose a cry in the town that five hundred men were found dead in the courtyard and no one knew who had killed them. And they said to one another: "No one else could have done this except Ashmedai."

Joab' s hostess asked him whether he had heard who had done it. And he said: "No, who would tell me?"

Again he took ten gold florins out of his purse and gave them to the woman to buy him good food. He remained in her house ten days longer and went out again into the market place, his sword in his hand, and killed 1500 men. His sword was so bloody that it stuck to his hand, and he could not loosen it. So he quickly ran home and said to the young woman: "Heat some water that I may loosen my hand from the sword."

But she replied: "I should heat water for you, you who are eating and drinking with us and then killing the people of our city! I will not heat any water for you."

When Joab heard that, he ripped her belly open and thrust his hand in and thus loosened his hand from the sword. Then he ran out of the house. Outside he heard a proclamation to the effect that whosoever had a stranger in his house should deliver him up before the king. Joab met the crier and killed him on the spot, and whomever he met he put to death, until he came to the gate of the town, which he opened, causing the blood to flow out of the gate. The Israelites had meanwhile been mourning for Joab, thinking he had died long since. But when they saw the blood running out of the gate, they all cried out with joy and with a loud voice: "Hear, O Israel!"

When Joab heard this, he went to the top of a high tower and cried aloud the verse: "The Lord will not forsake His people Israel." Then he said: "'The Lord, blessed be He, will fight for us, and ye shall hold your peace' (d. Ex. 14.14). And now send a message quickly to King David, telling him to come, for we have conquered the whole town." Then Joab looked down and saw written on his right hand: "The Lord will answer thee from His sanctuary." Then David came and completed the whole psalm.

Then David said to Joab: "Have you killed all the Amalekites?"

And Joab replied: "My lord, there is none left alive in the town except the king and a few of his people."

They were brought before the king outside the town and he ordered them all to be put to death. And King David took the crown which weighed a talent of gold, besides many precious stones which were set therein, from the head of the king. Then he went into the town and burned all the idols. Then he took all the booty from the town and returned home in peace.