2 Samuel 18:1–5

Absalom Slain

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

²David sent the people out, ^aone third under the ¹command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the command 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 care about us; even if half of us die, they will not care about us. But ¹you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city.”

⁴Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So ^athe king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands.

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