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2 Samuel 17:24-18:4
New International Version
2 Samuel 17:24-18:4
New International Version
Absalom’s Death
24 David went to Mahanaim,(A) and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. 25 Absalom had appointed Amasa(B) over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of Jether,[a](C) an Ishmaelite[b] who had married Abigail,[c] the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab. 26 The Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.
27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash(D) from Rabbah(E) of the Ammonites, and Makir(F) son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai(G) the Gileadite(H) from Rogelim 28 brought bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils,[d] 29 honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows’ milk for David and his people to eat.(I) For they said, “The people have become exhausted and hungry and thirsty in the wilderness.(J)”
18 David mustered the men who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 David sent out his troops,(K) a third under the command of Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai(L) son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai(M) the Gittite. The king told the troops, “I myself will surely march out with you.”
3 But the men said, “You must not go out; if we are forced to flee, they won’t care about us. Even if half of us die, they won’t care; but you are worth ten(N) thousand of us.[e] It would be better now for you to give us support from the city.”(O)
4 The king answered, “I will do whatever seems best to you.”
So the king stood beside the gate while all his men marched out in units of hundreds and of thousands.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 17:25 Hebrew Ithra, a variant of Jether
- 2 Samuel 17:25 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 2:17); Hebrew and other Septuagint manuscripts Israelite
- 2 Samuel 17:25 Hebrew Abigal, a variant of Abigail
- 2 Samuel 17:28 Most Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac; Hebrew lentils, and roasted grain
- 2 Samuel 18:3 Two Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts care; for now there are ten thousand like us
2 Samuel 17:24-18:4
King James Version
2 Samuel 17:24-18:4
King James Version
24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.
26 So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.
27 And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
28 Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,
29 And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.
18 And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds over them.
2 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3 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.
4 And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
2 Samuel 17:24-18:4
New King James Version
2 Samuel 17:24-18:4
New King James Version
24 Then David went to (A)Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 And Absalom made (B)Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was the son of a man whose name was [a]Jithra, an [b]Israelite, who had gone in to (C)Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. 26 So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.
27 Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that (D)Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, (E)Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and (F)Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28 brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, 29 honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty (G)in the wilderness.”
Absalom’s Defeat and Death
18 And David [c]numbered the people who were with him, and (H)set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. 2 Then David sent out one third of the people under the hand of Joab, (I)one third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the hand of (J)Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I also will surely go out with you myself.”
3 (K)But the people answered, “You shall not go out! For if we flee away, they will not care about us; nor if half of us die, will they care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us now. For you are now more help to us in the city.”
4 Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 17:25 Jether, 1 Chr. 2:17
- 2 Samuel 17:25 So with MT, some LXX mss., Tg.; some LXX mss. Ishmaelite (cf. 1 Chr. 2:17); Vg. of Jezrael
- 2 Samuel 18:1 Lit. attended to
New International Version (NIV) 
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New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.