And there went out after him Joab's men
Who though he was removed from his post as general, yet might still have the command of a regiment:
and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites;
over whom Benaiah was, ( 2 Samuel 20:23 ) ; these attended David in his flight, and had now returned with him, ( 2 Samuel 15:18 ) ;
and all the mighty men;
the military men that were at Jerusalem as many as could be spared:
and they went out of Jerusalem to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri;
with Abishai at the head of them; Josephus F17 says there were six hundred, besides the soldiers at Jerusalem that went on this pursuit.