^{17 Ref} And he said, Far be it from me, O Lord, to do this; how may I take as my drink the life-blood of men who have put their lives in danger? So he would not take it. These things did the three great men of war.

^{18 Ref} And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty. He put to death three hundred with his spear, and he got for himself a name among the thirty.

^{19 Ref} Was he not the noblest of the thirty? so he was made their captain: but he was not equal to the first three.