2 Samuel 18:1-3 ▼

1 And David numbered the people who were with him, and he set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds.

2 And David sent out a third of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third under the hand of Abishai son of Zeruiah the brother of Joab, and a third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I will surely go out—I also with you?.”

3 And the people answered, “You shall not go out, for if we surely flee, they will not set the heart on us. If half of us die, they will not set the heart on us, but now you are like ten thousand of us, for now you are more to us in the city for a helper.”