Study Desk

And David mustered the people who were with him, and he set over them commanders of hundreds.

And David sent one third of the people by the hand of Joab, and one third by the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third by Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people. Going out I will go with you, I also.

And the people said, You shall not go out, for if we flee they will not set their heart on us even if half of us die; for now you are like ten thousand to us. And now it is good that you be a helper for us from the city.

And the king said to them, I will do that which is good in your eyes. And the king stood at the side of the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.

And the king commanded Joab, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, For my sake deal gently with the young man, with Absalom. And all the people heard as the king commanded the commanders concerning Absalom.

And the people went into the field to meet Israel. And the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.

And the people of Israel were stricken before David's servants. And there was a great destruction on that day of twenty thousand.

And the battle was scattered over the face of all the land, and the forest devoured among the people more than the sword had devoured in that day.