2 Samuel 18:1-3

Evangelical Heritage Version

The Battle

18 David organized the troops who were with him. He appointed leaders over units of a thousand and units of a hundred. ² Then David sent the troops out: one third under the command of Joab; one third under the command of Abishai, who was the son of Zeruiah and the brother of Joab; and one third under the command of Ittai from Gath.

The king said to the troops, “I myself will definitely also go with you.”

³ But the troops said, “You will not go, because if we flee, they will not target us. Even if half of us die, they will not target us, for there are ten thousand others like us. No. It is better now that you support us from the city.”