2 Samuel 18:1-6

Absalom Slain

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

2 David sent the people out, ²one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third under the command of ³Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, "I myself will surely go out with you also."

3 But the people said, "⁴You 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 you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city."

4 Then the king said to them, "Whatever seems best to you I will do." So ⁵the king stood beside * the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands.

5 The king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And ⁶all the people heard when the king charged all the commanders concerning * Absalom.

6 Then the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle took place in ⁷the forest of Ephraim.

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2 Samuel 18:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 18

In this chapter is an account of David's review of his army, preparing it for battle with Absalom, and those with him, 2Sa 18:1-5; and of the defeat and flight of the rebels, 2Sa 18:6-8; and of the death of Absalom, and the manner of it, and of his burial, 2Sa 18:9-18; and of the news of it brought to David by different persons, 2Sa 18:19-32; and of his great grief and sorrow on that account, 2Sa 18:33.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 7

1. Exodus 18:25; Numbers 31:14; 1 Samuel 22:7
2. Judges 7:16; 1 Samuel 11:11
3. 2 Samuel 15:19-22
4. 2 Samuel 21:17
5. 2 Samuel 18:24
6. 2 Samuel 18:12
7. Joshua 17:15, 18; 2 Samuel 17:26

Footnotes 5

[a]. Lit "mustered"
[b]. Lit "hand"
[c]. Lit "hand"
[d]. Lit "hand"
[e]. So with some ancient versions; M.T. "for now there are ten thousand like us"