2 Samuel 18:1

1 Then David mustered the men who were with him, and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.

2 Samuel 18:1 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 18:1

And David numbered the people that [were] with him
Which Josephus says ^F4 were four thousand; but one would think there should be more by what follows:

and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them;
he divided his army into companies, which consisted some of a thousand and others of a hundred; over each of which he set captains, to lead them on, direct, and command them in battle.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 10. sect. 1.

2 Samuel 18:1 In-Context

1 Then David mustered the men who were with him, and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.

2 And David sent forth the army, one third under the command of Jo'ab, one third under the command of Abi'shai the son of Zeru'iah, Jo'ab's brother, and one third under the command of It'tai the Gittite. And the king said to the men, "I myself will also go out with you."

3 But the men said, "You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore it is better that you send us help from the city."

4 The king said to them, "Whatever seems best to you I will do." So the king stood at the side of the gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands.

5 And the king ordered Jo'ab and Abi'shai and It'tai, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Ab'salom." And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Ab'salom.