II Samuel 18
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Commentaries
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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 Sa2 18:3, which they think should be read, We are now ten thousand strong.
Open source ↗DAVID REVIEWING THE ARMIES. (Sa2 18:1-4) David numbered the people that were with him--The hardy mountaineers of Gilead came in great numbers at the call of their chieftains, so that, although without money to pay any troops, David soon found himself at the head of a considerable army. A pitched battle was now inevitable. But so much depending on the life of the king, he was not allowed to take the field in person; and he therefore divided his forces into three detachments under Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, the commander of the foreign guards.
Open source ↗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.
Open source ↗Preparation for war. - Sa2 18:1-2. David mustered the people that were with him, and placed over them captains of thousands and hundreds, and divided them into three companies, under the generals Joab, Abishai, and Ittai the Gathite, who had given such decided proofs, according to Sa2 15:21-22, of his fidelity to David. בּיד שׁלּח, to leave to the hand of a person, i.e., to his power, is used here in the sense of placing under his direction. The people opposed in the most decided manner the wish of the king to go with them to the war, saying (Sa2 18:3), "Thou shalt not go out: for if we flee, they will take no heed of us (i.e., attach no importance to this); and if half of us die, they will take no heed of us: for thou art as ten thousand of us (we must evidently read אתּה for עתּה, and עתּה has merely got into the text in consequence of ועתּה following): and now it is good that thou be ready to give us help from the city" (the Chethib לעזיר, inf. Hiphil for להעזיר, is not to be disputed). David was to stay behind in the city with a reserve, that he might be able to come to their relief in case of need.
Open source ↗Which way David raised an army here, and what reinforcements were sent him, we are not told; many, it is likely, from all the coasts of Israel, at least from the neighbouring tribes, came in to his assistance, so that, by degrees, he was able to make head against Absalom, as Ahithophel foresaw. Now here we have, I. His army numbered and marshalled, Sa2 18:1, Sa2 18:2. He had, no doubt, committed his cause to God by prayer, for that was his relief in all his afflictions; and then he took an account of his forces. Josephus says they were, in all, but about 4000. These he divided into regiments and companies, to each of which he appointed proper officers, and then disposed them, as is usual, into the right wing, the left wing, and the centre, two of which he committed to his two old experienced generals, Joab and Abishai, and the third to his new friend Ittai. Good order and good conduct may sometimes be as serviceable in an army as great numbers. Wisdom teaches us to make the best of the strength we have, and let it reach to the utmost. II. Himself over-persuaded not to go in person to the battle. He was Absalom's false friend that persuaded him to go, and served his pride more than his prudence; David's true friends would not let him go, remembering what they had been told of Ahithophel's design to smite the king only. David showed his affection to them by being willing to venture with them (Sa2 18:2), and they showed theirs to him by opposing it. We must never reckon it an affront to be gain-said for our good, and by those that therein consult our interest. 1. They would by no means have him to expose himself, for (say they) thou art worth 10,000 of us. Thus ought princes to be valued by their subjects, who, for their safety, must be willing to expose themselves. 2. The…
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse פָּקַד (pâqad, H6485) — to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… שַׂר (sar, H8269) — a head person (of any rank or class) אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H505) — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as… מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
Open source ↗דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) שְׁלִישִׁי (shᵉlîyshîy, H7992) — third; feminine athird (part); by extension, a third (day, year or time); specifically, a… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), יוֹאָב (Yôwʼâb, H3097) — Joab, the name of three Israelites אֲבִישַׁי (ʼĂbîyshay, H52) — Abishai, an Israelite בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… צְרוּיָה (Tsᵉrûwyâh, H6870) — Tserujah, an Israelitess אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… אִתַּי (ʼIttay, H863) — Ittai or Ithai, the name of a Gittite and of an Israelite גִּתִּי (Gittîy, H1663) — a Gittite or inhabitant of Gath מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude)
Open source ↗עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… נוּס (nûwç, H5127) — to flit, i.e. vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver) שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… חֵצִי (chêtsîy, H2677) — the half or middle מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill כְּמוֹ (kᵉmôw, H3644) — a form of the prefix 'k-', but used separately as, thus, so עֶשֶׂר (ʻeser, H6235) — ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits) אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H505) — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as… טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2896) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the… עָזַר (ʻâzar, H5826) — to surround, i.e. protect or aid עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere…
Open source ↗מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) יָטַב (yâṭab, H3190) — to be (causative) make well, literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy,… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) שַׁעַר (shaʻar, H8179) — an opening, i.e. door or gate יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H505) — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as…
Open source ↗מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin יוֹאָב (Yôwʼâb, H3097) — Joab, the name of three Israelites אֲבִישַׁי (ʼĂbîyshay, H52) — Abishai, an Israelite אִתַּי (ʼIttay, H863) — Ittai or Ithai, the name of a Gittite and of an Israelite אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אַט (ʼaṭ, H328) — (as a noun) a necromancer (from their soft incantations), (as an adverb) gently נַעַר (naʻar, H5288) — (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a… אֲבִישָׁלוֹם (ʼĂbîyshâlôwm, H53) — Abshalom, a son of David; also (the fuller form) a later Israelite עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… שַׂר (sar, H8269) — a head person (of any rank or class) דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
Open source ↗עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… שָׂדֶה (sâdeh, H7704) — a field (as flat) קִרְאָה (qirʼâh, H7125) — an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity מִלְחָמָה (milchâmâh, H4421) — a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare) יַעַר (yaʻar, H3293) — a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb (as hived in trees) אֶפְרַיִם (ʼEphrayim, H669) — Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
Open source ↗עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity נָגַף (nâgaph, H5062) — to push, gore, defeat, stub (the toe), inflict (a disease) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent מַגֵּפָה (maggêphâh, H4046) — a pestilence; by analogy, defeat יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… עֶשְׂרִים (ʻesrîym, H6242) — twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H505) — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as…
Open source ↗מִלְחָמָה (milchâmâh, H4421) — a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare) פּוּץ (pûwts, H6327) — to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) יַעַר (yaʻar, H3293) — a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb (as hived in trees) אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) רָבָה (râbâh, H7235) — to increase (in whatever respect) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or…
Open source ↗אֲבִישָׁלוֹם (ʼĂbîyshâlôwm, H53) — Abshalom, a son of David; also (the fuller form) a later Israelite קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7122) — to encounter, whether accidentally or in a hostile manner פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse רָכַב (râkab, H7392) — to ride (on an animal or in a vehicle); causatively, to place upon (for riding or… פֶּרֶד (pered, H6505) — a mule (perhaps from his lonely habits) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) שׂוֹבֶךְ (sôwbek, H7730) — a thicket, i.e. interlaced branches גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent אֵלָה (ʼêlâh, H424) — an oak or other strong tree רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh, H7218) — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of… חָזַק (châzaq, H2388) — to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively… נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
Open source ↗אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to… יוֹאָב (Yôwʼâb, H3097) — Joab, the name of three Israelites אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אֲבִישָׁלוֹם (ʼĂbîyshâlôwm, H53) — Abshalom, a son of David; also (the fuller form) a later Israelite תָּלָה (tâlâh, H8518) — to suspend (especially to gibbet) אֵלָה (ʼêlâh, H424) — an oak or other strong tree
Open source ↗יוֹאָב (Yôwʼâb, H3097) — Joab, the name of three Israelites אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) עֶשֶׂר (ʻeser, H6235) — ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits) כֶּסֶף (keçeph, H3701) — silver (from its pale color); by implication, money אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first חֲגוֹר (chăgôwr, H2290) — a belt (for the waist)
Open source ↗אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יוֹאָב (Yôwʼâb, H3097) — Joab, the name of three Israelites לוּא (lûwʼ, H3863) — a conditional particle; if; by implication (interj. as a wish) would that! שָׁקַל (shâqal, H8254) — to suspend or poise (especially in trade) אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H505) — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as… כֶּסֶף (keçeph, H3701) — silver (from its pale color); by implication, money כַּף (kaph, H3709) — the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of… שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אֹזֶן (ʼôzen, H241) — broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man) צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin
Open source ↗אוֹ (ʼôw, H176) — desire (and so probably in Proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application שֶׁקֶר (sheqer, H8267) — an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial) נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause כָּחַד (kâchad, H3582) — to secrete, by act or word; hence (intensively) to destroy מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king יָצַב (yâtsab, H3320) — to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively, to station, offer, continue
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יוֹאָב (Yôwʼâb, H3097) — Joab, the name of three Israelites יָחַל (yâchal, H3176) — to wait; by implication, to be patient, hope פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice שֵׁבֶט (shêbeṭ, H7626) — a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking,… כַּף (kaph, H3709) — the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of… תָּקַע (tâqaʻ, H8628) — to clatter, i.e. slap (the hands together), clang (an instrument); by analogy, to drive… לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… אֲבִישָׁלוֹם (ʼĂbîyshâlôwm, H53) — Abshalom, a son of David; also (the fuller form) a later Israelite חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… אֵלָה (ʼêlâh, H424) — an oak or other strong tree
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Joshua got up early the next morning and mobilized his men, and he and the elders of Israel marched before them up to Ai.
So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.”
He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots.