David Orders Joab, Abishai, And Ittai To Deal Gently With

1Then David mustered the people who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.

2David sent out the troops: one third under Joab, one third under Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the troops, “I myself will surely go out with you.”

3But the people said, “You must not go out, for if we flee, they will not pay attention to us; and if half of us die, they will not pay attention to us. For you are worth ten thousand of us; so now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city.”

4The king said to them, “What seems good in your eyes, I will do.” So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.

5And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king commanded all the commanders concerning Absalom.