2 Samuel 18:3

And they said, Thou shalt not go out: for if we should indeed flee, they will not care for us; and if half of us should die, they will not mind us; for thou art as ten thousand of us: and now it is well that thou shalt be to us an aid to help us in the city.

Updated Brenton Septuagint

In The King James Version

But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.

In Context

2And David sent away the people, the third part under the hand of Joab, and the third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, and the third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And David said to the people, I also will surely go out with you.

4And the king said to them, Whatsoever shall seem good in your eyes I will do. And the king stood by the side of the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.

Read all of 2 Samuel 18

Cross References

2 Samuel 10:11And he said, If Syria be too strong for me, then shall ye help me: and if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then will we be ready to help thee.

2 Samuel 21:17And Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him and smote the Philistine, and slew him. Then the men of David swore, saying, Thou shalt not any longer go out with us to battle, and thou shalt not quench the lamp of Israel.

Lamentations 4:20The breath of our nostrils, our anointed Lord, 1 Was taken in their destructive snares, 1 Of whom we said, 1 In his shadow we shall live among the Gentiles. 1

Matthew Henry on 2 Samuel 18:2-9

Preparations for Battle. ( b. c. 1023.) 1 And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. 2 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also. 3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away,… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study 2 Samuel 18:3