2 Samuel 18:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But the men said, "You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore it is better that you send us help from the city."

NIV: 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 thousand of us. It would be better now for you to give us support from the city."

NASB: But the people said, 'You should not go out; for if in fact we flee, they will not care about us; and if half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; so now it is better that you will be ready to help us from the city.'

CSB: "You must not go!" the people pleaded. "If we have to flee, they will not pay any attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not pay any attention to us because you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore, it is better if you support us from the city."

NLT: But his men objected strongly. 'You must not go,' they urged. 'If we have to turn and run — and even if half of us die — it will make no difference to Absalom’s troops; they will be looking only for you. You are worth 10,000 of us, and it is better that you stay here in the town and send help if we need it.'

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.

NKJV: 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.”

When David fought regularly, he did nothing without consulting God first. As he fled his son Absalom's rebellion, the text doesn't record him asking God what to do. We know he's praying. He wrote Psalm 3 as Absalom chased him, affirming that only God could save him.

Yet on the edge of another battle, he seems more concerned for Absalom's safety than his own. He tells the army he is going into the fight with them (2 Samuel 18:2). He hasn't functionally led the army in many years. The last recorded time he went into battle was after Joab had already won the war (2 Samuel 12:26–31).

Scholars suggest that David wants to be in the middle of the fight so he can keep his soldiers from harming his son (2 Samuel 18:5). David seems to have an unhealthy relationship with his boys. He loves them, but he doesn't know how to discipline them (2 Samuel 13:21). Even when Absalom leads a revolt, David can't bear the thought that his son would suffer.

"The men" probably refer to David's generals Joab and Abishai—Absalom's cousins—and Ittai, the leader of a Philistine mercenary unit (2 Samuel 15:19; 18:2). Thanks to David's network of spies (2 Samuel 15:27–29, 34–37; 17:21), they know that Absalom plans on killing David and bringing back his people to serve the new king (2 Samuel 17:1–4). The generals' entire purpose is to see David retain his throne. That can't happen if he's dead.

When David and his people fled Absalom, they found rest in the city of Mahanaim (2 Samuel 17:27–29). David will stay between the gates until the battle ends (2 Samuel 18:24). We don't know what help he would send: possibly his personal bodyguard (2 Samuel 15:18), men from the city, or the less-skilled men who came with him. But the generals won't need reinforcements. With God's help, they'll defeat Absalom's army that day (2 Samuel 18:6–8).

Second Samuel 18:1–5 is David's preparation for battle against his son. As Absalom marched on Jerusalem, David and his servants fled to friends in Mahanaim in Gilead (2 Samuel 15:13–14; 17:27–29). Absalom and his army have followed and camped nearby (2 Samuel 17:26). David splits his fighting men between three commanders. The men tell their king to stay behind: Absalom only wants David dead. David agrees but tells them to be merciful to Absalom. Joab, the general, will completely ignore this command (2 Samuel 18:14–16).

In 2 Samuel 18, the rebellion ends. Absalom has built a following and revolted against David (2 Samuel 15; 17). His army is no match for David's seasoned warriors or the dangerous terrain on which the battle is fought. Absalom is pursued and killed despite David's order that he be spared. When David hears of this, he falls into grief. Joab tells David to stop disrespecting his people's sacrifice (2 Samuel 19:1–8). David leads his people back to Jerusalem and starts to repair the broken kingdom (2 Samuel 19:9–43).

Second Samuel 18 marks the fulfillment of God's curses against David. The violence and betrayal God promised David (2 Samuel 12:10–12) because of his sin against Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Samuel 11) culminate in Absalom's attempt to kill his father and take the throne (2 Samuel 15—17). David's generals make quick work of Absalom's army. Joab kills Absalom against David's direct order. David will attempt to repair the fractured kingdom, starting with forgiving his enemies (2 Samuel 19:9–43). The rift never fully heals, however, and the nation splits permanently after Solomon dies (2 Chronicles 10).