Keil and Delitzsch Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:1 - 18:1

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Keil and Delitzsch Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:1 - 18:1


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Preparation for war. - 2Sa 18:1-2. David mustered the people that were with him, and placed over them captains of thousands and hundreds, and divided them into three companies, under the generals Joab, Abishai, and Ittai the Gathite, who had given such decided proofs, according to 2Sa 15:21-22, of his fidelity to David. בְּיַד שִׁלֵּחַ, to leave to the hand of a person, i.e., to his power, is used here in the sense of placing under his direction. The people opposed in the most decided manner the wish of the king to go with them to the war, saying (2Sa 18:3), “Thou shalt not go out: for if we flee, they will take no heed of us (i.e., attach no importance to this); and if half of us die, they will take no heed of us: for thou art as ten thousand of us (we must evidently read אַתָּה for עַתָּה, and עַתָּה has merely got into the text in consequence of וְעַתָּה following): and now it is good that thou be ready to give us help from the city” (the Chethib לַעְזִיר, inf. Hiphil for לְהַעֲזִיר, is not to be disputed). David was to stay behind in the city with a reserve, that he might be able to come to their relief in case of need.