^18:1David assembled the army that was with him. He appointed leaders of thousands and leaders of hundreds. ^18:2David then sent out the army—a third under the leadership of Joab, a third under the leadership of Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under the leadership of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the troops, “I too will indeed march out with you.”

^18:3But the soldiers replied,¹ “You should not do this!² For if we should have to make a rapid retreat, they won’t be too concerned about us.³ Even if half of us should die, they won’t be too concerned about us. But you⁴ are like ten thousand of us! So it is better if you remain in the city for support.” ^18:4Then the king said to them, “I will do whatever seems best to you.”

So the king stayed beside the city gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands. ^18:5The king gave this order to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: “For my sake deal gently with the young man Absalom.” Now the entire army was listening when the king gave all the leaders this order concerning Absalom.

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Footnotes

1 Heb “the people said.”
2 Heb “march out.”
3 Heb “they will not place to us heart.”
4 The translation follows the (except for the Lucianic recension), Symmachus, and in reading אָתָּה (’atta, “you”) rather than עָתָּה (’atta, “now”).