2 Samuel 18:1-8

1Then David 1numbered the people who were with him and 2set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2David sent the people out, 3one third under the 4command of Joab, one third under the 5command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the 6command of 7Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will surely go out with you also.” 3But the people said, “8You 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 9you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city.” 4Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So 10the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands. 5The king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And 11all the people heard when the king charged all the commanders concerning Absalom.

6Then the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle took place in 12the forest of Ephraim. 7The people of Israel were 13defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men. 8For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.