God’s Word Translation
2 Samuel 18:2
2David put a third of the troops under Joab’s command, another third under Joab’s brother Abishai (Zeruiah’s son), and the last third under Ittai from Gath. “I am going ⌞into battle⌟ with you,” the king said to the troops.
2 Samuel 18:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)David sent out his troops, a third under the command of Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. The king told the troops, “I myself will surely march out with you.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)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 Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the men, "I myself will also go out with you."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then David sent out one third of the people under the hand of Joab, one third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I also will surely go out with you myself.”
Context of 2 Samuel 18:2
1David called together the troops that were with him. He appointed commanders in charge of regiments and battalions. David put a third of the troops under Joab’s command, another third under Joab’s brother Abishai (Zeruiah’s son), and the last third under Ittai from Gath. “I am going ⌞into battle⌟ with you,” the king said to the troops. 3“You’re not going ⌞with us⌟,” the troops said. “If we flee, they won’t care about us, and if half of us die, they won’t care either. But you’re worth 10,000 of us. It’s better for you to be ready to send us help from the city.” 4“I’ll do what you think best,” the king responded. So the king stood by the gate while all the troops marched out by battalions and regiments.
Read all of 2 Samuel 182 Samuel 18:2 word by word
וַיְשַׁלַּ֨ח דָּוִ֜ד אֶת־הָעָ֗ם הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֤ית בְּיַד־יוֹאָב֙ וְ֠הַשְּׁלִשִׁית בְּיַ֨ד אֲבִישַׁ֤י בֶּן־צְרוּיָה֙ אֲחִ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב וְהַ֨שְּׁלִשִׁ֔ת בְּיַ֖ד אִתַּ֣י הַגִּתִּ֑י ס וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־הָעָ֔ם יָצֹ֥א אֵצֵ֛א גַּם־אֲנִ֖י עִמָּכֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- sent forthשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
- a third partשְׁלִישִׁיshelîyshîy · thirdH7992
- of the peopleעַם‛am · people: soldiersH5971
- under the handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
- of Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
- of Abishaiאֲבִישַׁי'ăbîyshay 'abshay · AbishaiH52
- the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Zeruiahצְרוּיָהtserûyâh · ZeruiahH6870
- brotherאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
- of Ittaiאִתַּי'ittay 'îythay · IttaiH863
- the Gittiteגִּתִּיgittîy · GittiteH1663
- And the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- I will surelyיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
- with you myselfאֲנִי'ănîy · IH589
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 18:2
- Judges 7:16Gideon divided the 300 men into three companies. He gave them each rams’ horns and jars with torches inside.
- Judges 9:43So he took his troops, divided them into three companies, and set an ambush in the fields. He watched and saw the people coming out of the city. Then he began to attack them.
- 2 Samuel 10:7After David heard about this, he sent Joab and all the elite troops.
- 2 Samuel 15:19The king asked Ittai from Gath, “Why should you go with us? Go back, and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland.
- 2 Samuel 17:11So my advice is to gather all Israel’s troops from Dan to Beersheba, since they are as numerous as the sand on the seashore. Lead them into battle yourself.
- Psalms 3:6I am not afraid of the tens of thousands who have taken positions against me on all sides.
- Psalms 27:1The Lord is my light and my salvation. Who is there to fear? The Lord is my life’s fortress. Who is there to be afraid of?
- Psalms 118:6The Lord is on my side. I am not afraid. What can mortals do to me?
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18:2
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2A third part - This seems to have been a favorite division with the Hebrew commanders (see Judges 7:16; Judges 9:43; 1 Samuel 11:11; 2 Kings 11:5-6) and with the Philistines also 1 Samuel 13:17.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-42Sa 18:1-4. David Reviewing the Armies. 1-2. David numbered the people that were with him--The hardy mountaineers of Gilead came in great numbers at the call of their chieftains, so that, although without money to pay any troops, David soon found himself at the head of a considerable army. A pitched battle was now inevitable. But so much depending on the life of the king, he was not allowed to take the field in person; and he therefore divided his forces…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 18:2
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
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