²³ And David counselled with the Lord, and said, Whether I shall go up against the Philistines, and whether thou shalt betake them into mine hands? (And David counselled with the Lord, and said, Shall I go up against the Philistines, and shalt thou deliver them into my hands?) And the Lord answered, Thou shalt not go up against them, but compass thou them behind their back, and (then) thou shalt come to them on the contrary side of the pear trees.

²⁴ And when thou shalt hear the sound of (a) cry going in the top(s) of (the) pear trees, then thou shalt begin (the) battle; for then the Lord shall go out before thy face, that he smite the tents of Philistines (for then the Lord shall go out before thee, and strike down the host, or the army, of the Philistines).

²⁵ Therefore David did as the Lord commanded to him; and he smote the Philistines from Geba till they came to Gazer.