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2 Samuel 18:3

Fellowship and the churchProtection and safety

1 Then David reviewed his troops and appointed over them commanders of hundreds and of thousands.

2 He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the troops, “I will surely march out with you as well.”

But the people pleaded, “You must not go out! For if we have to flee, they will pay no attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It is better for now if you support us from the city.”

4 “I will do whatever seems best to you,” the king replied. So he stood beside the gate, while all the troops marched out by hundreds and by thousands.

5 Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” And all the people heard the king’s orders to each of the commanders regarding Absalom.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But the people pleaded, “You must not go out! For if we have to flee, they will pay no attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It is better for now if you support us from the city.”
KJV
But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.
WEB
But the people said, “You shall not go out, for if we flee away, they will not care for us, neither if half of us die, will they care for us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore now it is better that you are ready to help us out of the city.”
ASV
But the people said, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but thou art worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that thou be ready to succor us out of the city.
DARBY
But the people said, Thou shalt not go forth, for if we should in any case flee, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us; for *thou* art worth ten thousand of us; and now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.
BLB
And the people answered, “You shall not go out, for if we surely flee, they will not set the heart on us. If half of us die, they will not set the heart on us, but now [you are] like ten thousand of us, for now you are more to us in the city for a helper.”
ÅB
Men folket sa: Du skal ikke dra ut; for om vi flykter, bryr ingen seg om oss, og om halvdelen av oss faller, bryr heller ingen seg om oss; men du er så god som ti tusen av oss, og nå er det bedre at du er rede til å komme oss til hjelp fra byen.
OTB
Men folket sa: "Du skal ikke gå ut. For om vi flykter, bryr de seg ikke om oss; selv om halvparten av oss dør, bryr de seg ikke. Men du er verd ti tusen av oss. Derfor er det bedre at du er klar til å sende hjelp fra byen."
B1930
Men folket sa: Du skal ikke dra ut; for om vi flykter, bryr ingen sig om oss, og om halvdelen av oss faller, bryr heller ingen sig om oss; men du er så god som ti tusen av oss, og nu er det bedre at du er rede til å komme oss til hjelp fra byen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Samuel 21:17

    But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.”

    Read in context

  • Zechariah 13:7

    Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones.

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 10:11

    “If the Arameans are too strong for me,” said Joab, “then you will come to my rescue. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to your rescue.

    Read in context

  • Lamentations 4:20

    The LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life, was captured in their pits. We had said of him, “Under his shadow we will live among the nations.”

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 17:2

    I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king

    Read in context

  • 1 Kings 22:31

    Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”

    Read in context

  • Exodus 17:10–12

    Joshua did as Moses had instructed him and fought against the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

    Read in context