English Standard Version
2 Samuel 18:4
4The 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.
2 Samuel 18:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
- New International Version (NIV)The king answered, “I will do whatever seems best to you.” So the king stood beside the gate while all his men marched out in units of hundreds and of thousands.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“If you think that’s the best plan, I’ll do it,” the king answered. So he stood alongside the gate of the town as all the troops marched out in groups of hundreds and of thousands.
Context of 2 Samuel 18:4
2And 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 Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the men, "I myself will also go out with you." 3But 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." 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. 5And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom. 6So the army went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim.
Read all of 2 Samuel 182 Samuel 18:4 word by word
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֲשֶׁר־יִיטַ֥ב בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֖ם אֶעֱשֶׂ֑ה וַיַּעֲמֹ֤ד הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־יַ֣ד הַשַּׁ֔עַר וְכָל־הָעָם֙ יָֽצְא֔וּ לְמֵא֖וֹת וְלַאֲלָפִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto them, What seemethעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
- you bestיָטַבyâţab · be goodH3190
- I will doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- stoodעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
- by the gateשַׁ֫עַרsha‛ar · gateH8179
- sideיָדyâd · hand: toH3027
- and all the peopleעַם‛am · people: soldiersH5971
- came outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
- by hundredsמֵאָהmê'âh mê'yâh · hundredH3967
- and by thousandsאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 18:4
- 2 Samuel 18:24Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he lifted up his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone.
- Isaiah 28:6and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
- 2 Samuel 18:1Then David mustered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
- 1 Samuel 29:2As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish,
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries