2 Samuel 18:1–5

Joab Puts Absalom to Death

¹Then David ¹numbered the people who were with him and ^aset over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.

²And David sent the people out, ^aone-third under the hand of Joab, one-third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one-third under the hand of ^bIttai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will surely go out with you also.”

³But the people said, “^aYou should not go out; for if we indeed flee, they will not set their heart on us; even if half of us die, they will not set their heart on us. But now ¹you are worth ten thousand of us; so now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city.”

⁴Then the king said to them, “Whatever is good in your sight I will do.” So ^athe king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands.

⁵Then the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And ^aall the people heard when the king commanded all the commanders concerning Absalom.