New International Version
2 Samuel 18:4
4The 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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
2David 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.” 3But the men said, “You must not go out; if we are forced to flee, they won’t care about us. Even if half of us die, they won’t care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It would be better now for you to give us support from the city.” 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. 5The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, “Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders. 6David’s army marched out of the city to fight Israel, and the battle took place 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 18:24While David was sitting between the inner and outer gates, the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked out, he saw a man running alone.
- Isaiah 28:6He will be a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, a source of strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
- 2 Samuel 18:1David mustered the men who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
- 1 Samuel 29:2As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at 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
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Commentaries