God’s Word Translation
2 Samuel 18:4
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.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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.
Context of 2 Samuel 18:4
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. 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.” “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. 5The king ordered Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” All the troops heard him give all the commanders this order regarding Absalom. 6So the troops went out to the country to fight Israel 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 18:24David was sitting between the two gates while the watchman walked along the roof of the gate by the wall. As he looked, he saw a man running alone.
- Isaiah 28:6He will give a spirit of justice to those who judge. He will give strength to those who defend the city gates in battle.
- 2 Samuel 18:1David called together the troops that were with him. He appointed commanders in charge of regiments and battalions.
- 1 Samuel 29:2The Philistine leaders were marching by with their companies and regiments. David and his men were marching 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries