II Samuel 18

 II Samuel 18

1 And David numbered the people that he had with him, and set captains of a hundred over them.

2 And David sent the people, one third under the hand of Joab, and another third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and another third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite; and the king said unto the people, I also will go out with you together.

3 But the people said, Thou shalt not go out; and even half of us die, they will not take heart in us, for even as we are, you will gather ten thousand: it would be better for you to serve us out of the city.

4 Then David said to them, What seems good in your eyes, I will do. And the king stood on the side of the gate, and all the people came out in hundreds and thousands.

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

6 So the people went out into the field to meet Israel, and battle broke out in the forest of Ephraim.

7 And there the people of Israel were smitten before the servants of David: and that same day there was a great rout there of twenty thousand.

8 For there the battle extended over the face of all that land; and the people consumed the forest more than the sword consumed that day.