In Context

2 David sent forth the people, a third part 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. The king said to the people, |I will surely go forth with you myself also.|

3 But the people said, |You shall 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 you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore now it is better that you are ready to help us out of the city.|

4 The king said to them, |I will do what seems best to you.| The king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.

5 The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, |Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom.| All the people heard when the king commanded all the captains concerning Absalom.

6 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.

7 The people of Israel were struck there before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men.

2 Samuel 18:5 in Other Translations