2 Samuel 18:1

2 Samuel 18:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
• New International Version (NIV)David mustered the men who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then David mustered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And David numbered the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

Context of 2 Samuel 18:1

Then David numbered the people who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2David sent the people out, 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 people, “I myself will surely go out with you also.” 3But the people said, “You should not go out; for if we indeed flee, they will not care about us; even if half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city.”

2 Samuel 18:1 word by word

וַיִּפְקֹ֣ד דָּוִ֔ד אֶת־הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֑וֹ וַיָּ֣שֶׂם עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם שָׂרֵ֥י אֲלָפִ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י מֵאֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear

• Then Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• numberedפָּקַדpâqad · to reckon: listH6485
• the peopleעַם‛am · people: soldiersH5971
• whoאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• setשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: appointH7760
• overעַל‛al · uponH5921
• them commandersשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• of thousandsאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
• of hundredsמֵאָהmê'âh mê'yâh · hundredH3967

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 18:1

• Exodus 17:9So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”
• Joshua 8:10Now Joshua rose early in the morning and mustered the people, and he went up with the elders of Israel before the people to Ai.
• 1 Samuel 8:12He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1And set captains of thousands - By this time David's small company was greatly recruited; but what its number was we cannot tell. Josephus says it amounted to four thousand men. Others have supposed that they amounted to ten thousand; for thus they understand a clause in 2 Samuel 18:3, which they think should be read, We are now ten thousand strong.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Absalom's army defeated. (1-8) He is slain. (9-18) David's over-sorrow. (19-33) Verses 1-8 How does David render good for evil! Absalom would have only David smitten; David would have only Absalom spared. This seems to be a resemblance of man's wickedness towards God, and God's mercy to man, of which it is hard to say which is most amazing. Now the Israelites see what it is to take counsel against the Lord and his anointed.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 18:1

• Armies
• Captain

In the dictionaries

• David
• Charge
• Lift
• Pillar
• Rise
• Thrust
• Absalom (1)
• Bible, the
• Israel, History of
• Joab

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