Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, September 13th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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Read the Bible

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

2 Samuel 18:1

Then David mustered the people that were with him, - and set over them, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Armies;   Captain;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Armies of Israel, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ahimaaz;   Joab;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Absalom;   Easton Bible Dictionary - David;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Mahanaim;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Abishai;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Abishai;   Samuel, Books of;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Absalom;   David;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Absalom (1);   Samuel, Books of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Absalom;   Army;   Captain;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
David reviewed his troops and appointed commanders of thousands and of hundreds over them.
Hebrew Names Version
David numbered the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
King James Version
And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds over them.
Lexham English Bible
Then David mustered the people who were with him, and he appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
English Standard Version
Then David mustered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
New Century Version
David counted his men and placed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
New English Translation
David assembled the army that was with him. He appointed leaders of thousands and leaders of hundreds.
Amplified Bible
David numbered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
New American Standard Bible
Then David took a count of the people who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Dauid nombred the people that were with him, & set ouer them captaines of thousands and captaines of hundreths.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then David numbered the people who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
Contemporary English Version
David divided his soldiers into groups of a hundred and groups of a thousand. Then he chose officers to be in command of each group.
Complete Jewish Bible
David took a census of the people who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and of hundreds.
Darby Translation
And David marshalled the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
Easy-to-Read Version
David counted his men and chose captains over 1000 and captains over 100 to lead them.
George Lamsa Translation
AND David numbered the people who were with him, and set over them commanders of thousands and captains of hundreds.
Good News Translation
King David brought all his men together, divided them into units of a thousand and of a hundred, and placed officers in command of them.
Literal Translation
And David mustered the people who were with him, and he set over them commanders of hundreds.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Dauid mustred the people yt was with him, and set captaynes ouer the, ouer thousandes and ouer hundreds.
American Standard Version
And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
Bible in Basic English
And David had the people who were with him numbered, and he put over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Dauid numbred the people that were with him, and set captaynes of thousandes and of hundredes ouer them.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
King James Version (1611)
And Dauid numbred the people that were with him, and set captaines of thousands, and captaines of hundreds ouer them.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And David numbered the people with him, and set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds.
English Revised Version
And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
Berean Standard Bible
Then David reviewed his troops and appointed over them commanders of hundreds and of thousands.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor Dauid, whanne the puple `was biholdun, ordeynede tribunes and centuriouns on hem.
Young's Literal Translation
And David inspecteth the people who [are] with him, and setteth over them heads of thousands and heads of hundreds,
Update Bible Version
And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
Webster's Bible Translation
And David numbered the people that [were] with him, and set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds.
World English Bible
David numbered the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
New King James Version
And David numbered the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
New Living Translation
David now mustered the men who were with him and appointed generals and captains to lead them.
New Life Bible
Then David numbered the people who were with him. He set over them leaders of thousands and of hundreds.
New Revised Standard
Then David mustered the men who were with him, and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And David, having reviewed his people, appointed over them captains of thousands and of hundreds,
Revised Standard Version
Then David mustered the men who were with him, and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
THE MESSAGE
David organized his forces. He appointed captains of thousands and captains of hundreds. Then David deployed his troops, a third under Joab, a third under Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. The king then announced, "I'm marching with you."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then David numbered the people who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.

Contextual Overview

1 Then David mustered the people that were with him, - and set over them, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds. 2 And David sent forth the people - a third part, under the hand of Joab, and, a third part, under the hand of Abishai son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, and, a third part, under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. Then said the king, unto the people, I myself, will, surely go forth, with you. 3 But the people said - Thou must not go forth, for, if we, flee, they will not regard us, neither, if half of us die, will they regard us, for, thou, compared with us, art worth ten thousand, - now, therefore, it will be better that thou come to us out of the city, with succour. 4 And the king said unto them, Whatever is best in your eyes, I will do. And the king stood beside the gate, while, all the people, came out by hundreds and by thousands. 5 And the king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently, for my sake, with the young man, even Absolom. And, all the people, heard when the king charged all the captains, for the sake of Absolom. 6 So the people went forth into the field against Israel, - and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. 7 Then were the people of Israel defeated there, before he servants of David, - and the slaughter there was great, on that day - twenty thousand. 8 And the battle there was spread out over the face of all the land, - and the forest devoured more of the people than the sword devoured on that day.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

numbered: Exodus 17:9, Joshua 8:10

captains of thousands: 1 Samuel 8:12

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 18:4 - by hundreds

Cross-References

Genesis 12:7
And Yahweh appeared unto Abram, and said: To thy seed, will I give this land, - And he built there an altar, unto Yahweh who appeared unto him.
Genesis 15:1
After these things, came the word of Yahweh unto Abram, in a vision saying, - Do not fear Abram, am a shield to thee, thine exceeding great reward.
Genesis 17:22
And he left off speaking with him, - and God went up from Abraham.
Genesis 18:1
And Yahweh appeared unto him among the oaks of Mamre, - as, he, was sitting at the opening of the tent in the heat of the day.
Genesis 18:3
and said, - O My Lord! if, I pray thee, I have found favour in thine eyes, do not I pray thee pass on from thy servant.
Genesis 26:2
and Yahweh appeared unto him, and said, do not go down towards Egypt, - Make thy habitation in the land, which I may name unto thee:
Genesis 48:3
Then said Jacob unto Joseph, GOD Almighty, appeared unto me in Luz in the land of Canaan, - and blessed me;
Exodus 4:1
Then responded Moses, and said, And lo! they will not believe me, neither hearken to my voice, - for they will say, Yahweh, hath not appeared unto thee.
2 Chronicles 1:7
During that night, God appeared unto Solomon, - and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.
Acts 7:2
And, he, said - Brethren and fathers, hearken! The God of Glory, appeared unto our father Abraham, while he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, -

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And David numbered the people that [were] with him,.... Which Josephus says d were four thousand; but one would think there should be more by what follows:

and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them; he divided his army into companies, which consisted some of a thousand and others of a hundred; over each of which he set captains, to lead them on, direct, and command them in battle.

d Antiqu. l. 7. c. 10. sect. 1.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XVIII

David reviews and arranges the people, and gives the command

to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, 1, 2.

On his expressing a desire to accompany them to the battle,

they will not permit him, 3.

He reviews them as they go out of the city, and gives

commandment to the captains to save Absalom, 4, 5.

They join battle with Absalom and his army, who are discomfited

with the loss of twenty thousand men, 6-8.

Absalom, fleeing away, is caught by his head in an oak; Joab

finds him, and transfixes him with three darts, 9-15.

The servants of David are recalled, and Absalom buried, 16-18.

Ahimaaz and Cushi bring the tidings to David, who is greatly

distressed at hearing of the death of Absalom, and makes

bitter lamentation for him, 19-33.

NOTES ON CHAP. XVIII

Verse 2 Samuel 18:1. And 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.


 
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