2 Samuel 18:1
New International Version
David mustered the men who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.

New Living Translation
David now mustered the men who were with him and appointed generals and captains to lead them.

English Standard Version
Then David mustered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.

Berean Standard Bible
Then David reviewed his troops and appointed over them commanders of hundreds and of thousands.

King James Bible
And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

New King James Version
And David numbered the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

New American Standard Bible
Then David took a count of the people who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.

NASB 1995
Then David numbered the people who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.

NASB 1977
Then David numbered the people who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then David numbered the people who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.

Amplified Bible
David numbered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.

Christian Standard Bible
David reviewed his troops and appointed commanders of thousands and of hundreds over them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
David reviewed his troops and appointed commanders of hundreds and of thousands over them.

American Standard Version
And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

Contemporary English Version
David divided his soldiers into groups of 100 and groups of 1,000. Then he chose officers to be in command of each group.

English Revised Version
And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
David called together the troops that were with him. He appointed commanders in charge of regiments and battalions.

Good News Translation
King David brought all his men together, divided them into units of a thousand and of a hundred, and placed officers in command of them.

International Standard Version
David mustered his forces and appointed officers in charge of regiments and companies.

Majority Standard Bible
Then David reviewed his troops and appointed over them commanders of hundreds and of thousands.

NET Bible
David assembled the army that was with him. He appointed leaders of thousands and leaders of hundreds.

New Heart English Bible
And David mustered the people who were with him, and appointed commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds over them.

Webster's Bible Translation
And David numbered the people that were with him, and set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds.

World English Bible
David counted the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And David inspects the people who [are] with him, and sets over them heads of thousands and heads of hundreds,

Young's Literal Translation
And David inspecteth the people who are with him, and setteth over them heads of thousands and heads of hundreds,

Smith's Literal Translation
And David will review the people which are with him, and he will put over them captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And David having reviewed his people, appointed over them captains of thousands and of hundreds,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so David, having reviewed his people, appointed over them tribunes and centurions.

New American Bible
After mustering the troops he had with him, David placed officers in command of units of a thousand and units of a hundred.

New Revised Standard Version
Then David mustered the men who were with him, and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
AND David numbered the people who were with him, and set over them commanders of thousands and captains of hundreds.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And David numbered the people who were with him, and set up over them Commanders of thousands and Commanders of hundreds
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And David numbered the people with him, and set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Absalom Killed
1Then David reviewed his troops and appointed over them commanders of hundreds and of thousands. 2He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the troops, “I will surely march out with you as well.”…

Cross References
2 Samuel 17:24-26
Then David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. / Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, the Ishmaelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab. / So the Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

2 Samuel 15:18-19
and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath. / Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Go back and stay with the new king, since you are both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland.

1 Samuel 25:13
And David said to his men, “Strap on your swords!” So David and all his men strapped on their swords, and about four hundred men followed David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.

1 Samuel 30:1-10
On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag, and the Amalekites had raided the Negev, attacked Ziklag, and burned it down. / They had taken captive the women and all who were there, both young and old. They had not killed anyone, but had carried them off as they went on their way. / When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned down and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. ...

1 Kings 2:5-6
Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. / So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

1 Chronicles 12:23-40
Now these are the numbers of men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him, in accordance with the word of the LORD: / From Judah: 6,800 armed troops bearing shields and spears. / From Simeon: 7,100 mighty men of valor, ready for battle. ...

Judges 7:16-22
And he divided the three hundred men into three companies and gave each man a ram’s horn in one hand and a large jar in the other, containing a torch. / “Watch me and do as I do,” Gideon said. “When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do exactly as I do. / When I and all who are with me blow our horns, then you are also to blow your horns from all around the camp and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon!’” ...

1 Samuel 11:11
The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions, and during the morning watch they invaded the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them, until the hottest part of the day. And the survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together.

1 Kings 1:33-40
“Take my servants with you,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. / There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ / Then you shall go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. For I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.” ...

1 Chronicles 27:1-15
This is the list of the Israelites—the heads of families, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter concerning the divisions on rotating military duty each month throughout the year. There were 24,000 men in each division: / Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division, which was assigned the first month. There were 24,000 men in his division. / He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army commanders for the first month. ...

2 Chronicles 17:12-19
Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah / and kept vast supplies in the cities of Judah. He also had warriors in Jerusalem who were mighty men of valor. / These are their numbers according to the houses of their fathers: From Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 mighty men of valor; ...

2 Chronicles 26:11-15
Uzziah had an army ready for battle that went out to war by assigned divisions, as recorded by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer under the direction of Hananiah, one of the royal officers. / The total number of family leaders of the mighty men of valor was 2,600. / Under their authority was an army of 307,500 trained for war, a powerful force to support the king against his enemies. ...

Matthew 26:47-56
While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people. / Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.” / Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. ...

John 18:1-11
After Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley, where they entered a garden. / Now Judas His betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples. / So Judas brought a band of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. They arrived at the garden carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons. ...

Acts 23:23-24
Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night. / Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”


Treasury of Scripture

And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds over them.

numbered

Exodus 17:9
And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

Joshua 8:10
And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.

captains of thousands

1 Samuel 8:12
And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

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Appointed Captains Commanders David Heads Hundreds Inspecteth Mustered Numbered Thousands
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2 Samuel 18
1. David viewing the armies in their march gives them charge of Absalom
6. The Israelites are sorely smitten in the wood of ephraim
9. Absalom, hanging in an oak is slain by Joab, and cast into a pit
18. Absalom's place
19. Ahimaaz and Cushi bring tidings to David
33. David mourns for Absalom














Then David
The phrase "Then David" situates us in the narrative of King David's life, a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). David, the shepherd boy turned king, is a central figure in the Old Testament, known for his military prowess, poetic psalms, and deep, albeit imperfect, relationship with God. The Hebrew root for David, "דָּוִד" (Dawid), means "beloved," reflecting his favored status with God despite his human failings. This moment follows the rebellion of his son Absalom, a time of personal and national crisis, highlighting David's resilience and leadership.

reviewed his troops
The act of reviewing troops indicates a strategic and organized approach to warfare, a necessity in the ancient Near Eastern context where battles were often decisive for the survival of a nation. The Hebrew word for "reviewed" is "פָּקַד" (paqad), which can mean to muster, number, or appoint. This suggests not only a counting but an inspection and preparation, ensuring readiness for the impending conflict. David's leadership is marked by his ability to inspire and organize, crucial traits for a king facing internal rebellion.

and appointed over them
The appointment of leaders is a critical aspect of military and organizational strategy. The Hebrew word "שִׂים" (sim) means to set, place, or appoint, indicating deliberate and thoughtful action. David's decision to appoint commanders reflects his understanding of the need for structure and hierarchy in achieving military success. This mirrors the biblical principle of delegated authority, seen throughout Scripture, where leaders are chosen to guide and manage God's people.

commanders of hundreds and of thousands
This phrase highlights the military organization of ancient Israel, with a clear chain of command. The Hebrew terms "שָׂרֵי מֵאוֹת" (sarei me'ot) and "שָׂרֵי אֲלָפִים" (sarei alafim) refer to leaders over hundreds and thousands, respectively. This structure is reminiscent of the advice given to Moses by Jethro in Exodus 18:21, emphasizing the importance of delegation and leadership in managing large groups. It reflects a well-ordered society where responsibilities are distributed according to capability and need, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in times of crisis.

XVIII.

(1) Numbered the people.--The word means rather mustered. David was some time at Mahanaim, organising the forces which continually gathered to him there.

Verse 1. - And David numbered. The verb really means that he organized his army, and arranged it in companies and divisions. As Absalom gathered all Israel to him, there would be some delay; and David, like a wise general, made use of it for training the brave but undisciplined men who had joined him, chiefly from Gilead. Besides these, he had with him numerous veterans, whose skill and experience would be invaluable in such service. The result was that when the rebels came to close quarters, they had a vast body of men, but David a disciplined force, which, under skilful generalship, scattered Absalom's raw levies with ease. The arrangement into thousands and hundreds was in accordance with the civil divisions (Exodus 18:25), both being, in fact, dictated by nature as multiples of our hands.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then David
דָּוִ֔ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

reviewed
וַיִּפְקֹ֣ד (way·yip̄·qōḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

his troops
הָעָ֖ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

and appointed
וַיָּ֣שֶׂם (way·yā·śem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

over them
עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (‘ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

commanders
שָׂרֵ֥י (śā·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

of hundreds
מֵאֽוֹת׃ (mê·’ō·wṯ)
Number - feminine plural
Strong's 3967: A hundred

and of thousands.
אֲלָפִ֖ים (’ă·lā·p̄îm)
Number - masculine plural
Strong's 505: A thousand


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OT History: 2 Samuel 18:1 David numbered the people who were (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 17:29
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