1. David called together the troops that were with him. He appointed commanders in charge of regiments and battalions.
2. David put a third of the troops under Joab’s command, another third under Joab’s brother Abishai (Zeruiah’s son), and the last third under Ittai from Gath.“I am going ⌊into battle⌋ with you,” the king said to the troops.
3. “You’re not going ⌊with us⌋,” the troops said. “If we flee, they won’t care about us, and if half of us die, they won’t care either. But you’re worth 10,000 of us. It’s better for you to be ready to send us help from the city.”
4. “I’ll do what you think best,” the king responded. So the king stood by the gate while all the troops marched out by battalions and regiments.
5. The king ordered Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” All the troops heard him give all the commanders this order regarding Absalom.
6. So the troops went out to the country to fight Israel in the forest of Ephraim.
7. There David’s men defeated Israel’s army, and the massacre was sizable that day—20,000 men.