2 Samuel 17:24-2 Samuel 18:8 - War Between David And Absalom

²⁴ When, David, had come to Mahanaim, Absolom, had passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. ²⁵ Now Absolom had appointed, Amasa, instead of Joab, over the army, - Amasa, being the son of a man whose name was Ithra the Ishmaelite, who went in unto Abigail, daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, mother of Joab. ²⁶ And Israel and Absolom encamped in the land of Gilead. ²⁷ And it came to pass, when David entered Mahanaim, that Shobi son of Nahash of Rabbah of the sons of Ammon and Machir son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite, of Rogelim, ²⁸ brought, sleeping rugs, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat and barley, and meal and roasted corn, - and beans and lentils, and parched pulse; ²⁹ and honey and cream, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat, - for they said, The people, are hungry and weary and thirsty, in the wilderness.

¹ Then David mustered the people that were with him, - and set over them, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds. ² And David sent forth the people - a third part, under the hand of Joab, and, a third part, under the hand of Abishai son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, and, a third part, under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. Then said the king, unto the people, I myself, will, surely go forth, with you.

³ But the people said - Thou must not go forth, for, if we, flee, they will not regard us, neither, if half of us die, will they regard us, for, thou, compared with us, art worth ten thousand, - now, therefore, it will be better that thou come to us out of the city, with succour.

⁴ And the king said unto them, Whatever is best in your eyes, I will do. And the king stood beside the gate, while, all the people, came out by hundreds and by thousands. ⁵ And the king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently, for my sake, with the young man, even Absolom. And, all the people, heard when the king charged all the captains, for the sake of Absolom.

⁶ So the people went forth into the field against Israel, - and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. ⁷ Then were the people of Israel defeated there, before he servants of David, - and the slaughter there was great, on that day - twenty thousand. ⁸ And the battle there was spread out over the face of all the land, - and the forest devoured more of the people than the sword devoured on that day.