Shmuel Bais 18:2

2 And Dovid sent forth a third part of the people under the yad Yoav, and a third part under the yad Avishai Ben Tzeruyah (Yoav’s brother), and a third part under the yad Ittai the Gitti. And HaMelech said unto HaAm, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

Shmuel Bais 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.

Shmuel Bais 18:2 In-Context

1 8 And Dovid mustered HaAm that were with him, and set sarei alafim, and sarei me’ot over them.

2 And Dovid sent forth a third part of the people under the yad Yoav, and a third part under the yad Avishai Ben Tzeruyah (Yoav’s brother), and a third part under the yad Ittai the Gitti. And HaMelech said unto HaAm, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

3 But HaAm answered, Thou shalt not go forth; for if we flee away, they will not set their lev on us; neither if half of us die, will they set their lev on us; but now thou art worth ten thousand of us; therefore, now it is better that thou support us from the Ir [i.e., Machanayim].

4 And HaMelech said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And HaMelech stood by the side of the sha’ar, and kol haAm came out by hundreds and by thousands.

5 And HaMelech commanded Yoav and Avishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the na’ar, even with Avshalom. And kol HaAm heard when HaMelech gave all the sarim charge concerning Avshalom.