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1 Then David (beloved) reviewed his troops and appointed over them commanders of thousands and of hundreds. 2 He (beloved) sent out the troops, a third under Joab (YHWH is father), a third under Joab’s brother Abishai (my father is a gift) son of Zeruiah (balsam), and a third under Ittai (with me) the Gittite (belonging to Gath). And the king said to the troops, “I will surely march out with you⁺ as well.” 3 But the people pleaded, “You must not go out! For if we have to flee, they will not care about us. Even if half of us die, they will not care. But you are worth ten thousand of us [care; for now there are ten thousand like us]. It is better now if you support us from the city.” 4 “I will do whatever seems best to you⁺,” the king replied. So he stood beside the gate, while all the troops marched out by hundreds and by thousands. 5 Now the king had commanded Joab (YHWH is father), Abishai (my father is a gift), and Ittai (with me), “Treat the young man Absalom (my father is peace) gently for my sake.” And all the people heard the king’s orders to each of the commanders regarding Absalom. 6 So David’s army marched into the field to engage Israel (he wrestles with God), and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim (doubly fruitful). 7 There the people of Israel (he wrestles with God) were defeated by David’s (beloved) servants, and the slaughter was great that day—twenty thousand men. 8 The battle spread over the whole countryside, and that day the forest devoured more people than the sword. 2 Samuel 18:1-8, Berean Annotated Bible. Public domain.
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