2Sa 18:1-5 | ESV | STEP | Then David mustered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds .

2 Samuel 18:1-5

Absalom Killed

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 out the army, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the command of ^aIttai the Gittite. And the king said to the men, “I myself will also go out with you.” 3 ^bBut 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 Joab and Abishai and Ittai, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” ^cAnd all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom.