2 Samuel 18:2

2 David put a third of the troops under Joab's command, another third under Joab's brother Abishai (Zeruiah's son), and the last third under Ittai from Gath. "I am going [into battle] with you," the king said to the troops.

2 Samuel 18:2 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 18:2

And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand
of Joab
Very likely that which made the centre of the army, since Joab was the general of the army; though this distribution was made when David thought to have headed the army himself, and so made with respect to that:

and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's
brother;
who was next to Joab in the army, and fought with him against the Syrians and Ammonites, ( 2 Samuel 10:10 2 Samuel 10:11 ) ;

and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite;
of whom see ( 2 Samuel 15:19 ) ; of these two parts consisted the right and left wings of the army:

and the king said unto the people;
the soldiers, and particularly the officers:

I will surely go forth with you myself also;
in which he seemed very resolute and peremptory; and this he proposed to do, not merely to animate the soldiers with his presence, and to show that he was willing to hazard his life with them, but chiefly for the sake of Absalom, to preserve his life, if possible.

2 Samuel 18:2 In-Context

1 David called together the troops that were with him. He appointed commanders in charge of regiments and battalions.

2 David put a third of the troops under Joab's command, another third under Joab's brother Abishai (Zeruiah's son), and the last third under Ittai from Gath. "I am going [into battle] with you," the king said to the troops.

3 "You're not going [with us]," the troops said. "If we flee, they won't care about us, and if half of us die, they won't care either. But you're worth 10,000 of us. It's better for you to be ready to send us help from the city."

4 "I'll do what you think best," the king responded. So the king stood by the gate while all the troops marched out by battalions and regiments.

5 The king ordered Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, "Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake." All the troops heard him give all the commanders this order regarding Absalom.