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1 And David numbered the people who were with him, and he set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds. 2 And David sent out a third of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third under the hand of Abishai son of Zeruiah the brother of Joab, and a third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I will surely go out—I also with you?.” 3 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.” 4 And the king said to them, “That which seems best in your? eyes I will do.” And the king stood at the side of the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands. 5 And the king had commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Be gentle for my sake with the young man, Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave orders all the captains concerning Absalom. 6 And the people went out into the field to meet Israel, and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim. 7 And the people of Israel were struck there before the faces of the servants of David, and there took place that day a great slaughter of twenty thousand. 8 For the battle there was scattered over the face of all the land, and the forest multiplied to devour the people more than the sword devoured that day. 2 Samuel 18:1-8, Berean Literal Bible. Public domain.
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