One day, when King David was out hunting, Satan appeared to him in the guise of a deer. David took aim, but the arrows he shot did not reach the deer, and he continued the chase into the land of the Philistines, his enemies. In this way, Satan led King David past the cave of the giant Ishbi-benob, the brother of Goliath, whom David had slain when he was still a young shepherd. For David had volunteered to face the mighty giant Goliath when no one else came forth who was brave enough to meet him in combat. And to the amazement of all, David had defeated the giant with a well-aimed stone from his slingshot. Now Ishbi-benob had recognized King David as the one who had slain his brother, and gave chase until he caught him. And when King David was his prisoner, the giant, who was even more terrifying than Goliath, bound him and would have crushed him beneath an olive press, except that miraculously the ground softened beneath David, and he was saved, although he remained trapped beneath the press.
Now at that time Abishai ben Zeruiah, a general in King David's army and a friend of the king's, was preparing for the Sabbath, for the king's capture had taken place on a Friday. Abishai was washing his hands in a basin when he noticed some blood stains in the water. At the same instant he heard the cry of a bird, and when he looked outside the window he saw a dove perched on a branch, plucking its feathers and beating its wings. Then it occurred to Abishai that these might be signs that King David was in danger, for Israel is likened to a dove.
So Abishai left his house and went to look for King David.
First he went to the palace, but he did not find him there. Then he looked for him in the House of Study and in the House of Prayer, but he was nowhere to be found.
Now King David possessed a magic mirror which revealed the location of anyone or anything that was lost. Abishai knew where the mirror was kept, and he also knew the spell that made it work, for he had once been present when King David had used it. But the king had forbidden anyone else to touch it. And King David also possessed a magic mare, which was as swift as the wind. But the king had forbidden anyone else to ride it.
Abishai then sought out the wise men of the kingdom, and said to them: I am certain that King David is in great danger, and the only way to find him is to use his magic mirror, but the king has forbidden it, and the only way to reach him is to use his magic mare, but the king has forbidden this as well. Then the wise men consulted among themselves and said: In a time of danger, such as this, it is permitted. So Abishai took out the magic mirror and pronounced the spell, and asked to see where King David was to be found. And when he peered into the mirror, he saw David trapped beneath the olive press, while the giant Ishbi-benob stood above it, laughing horribly. Then Abishai mounted the magic mare and rode off into the desert. The mare galloped so swiftly that she did not seem to touch the ground, and in the twinkling of an eye they reached the house of the giant.
When Abishai arrived, he saw Orpah, the mother of the giant, sitting outside the door spinning. As soon as Orpah saw Abishai she knew he was there to try to save King David, so she broke the thread she was spinning, and flung the spindle at Abishai, intending to kill him. But the spindle fell short. Then Orpah told Abishai to bring the spindle to her. Instead Abishai threw it, striking her in the head, and that was the end of her.
Just then the giant Ishbi-benob came running up, and when he saw what had happened he grew furious and lifted up the olive press beneath which King David was trapped. He intended to fling David's body at Abishai, but he discovered, to his amazement, that King David was still alive. Then the giant flung David high into the air and set his spear in the ground, so that David might fall upon it and perish. But at that instant Abishai pronounced the Ineffable Name of God, and King David remained suspended in the air. Abishai then pronounced the Divine Name again, and then King David slowly descended to the ground, landing at a safe distance from the spear.
King David and Abishai then leaped upon the magic mare, and rode off as fast as they could. In his fury the giant ran after them, but he did not watch where he was going, and he tripped over the olive press, and fell beneath it and was crushed. And that is how King David was saved from a terrible fate, and he gave thanks to Abishai for his quick thinking, and to the Holy One, blessed be He, for protecting him in his hour of danger.