2 Samuel 18:5 kjva — And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalo…

King James Version with Apocrypha

"And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom."

— 2 Samuel 18:5, King James Version with Apocrypha

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2 Samuel 18:5 in Other Translations

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2 Samuel 18 — Context

2

And David sent forth a third part of the people 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. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

3

But the people answered, Thou shalt 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 now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.

4

And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.

5

And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

6

So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;

7

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

8

For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

2 Samuel 18:5 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Samuel 18:5 say?
2 Samuel 18:5 in the King James Version with Apocrypha reads: “And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.”
Where is 2 Samuel 18:5 in the Bible?
2 Samuel 18:5 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 18, verse 5.
Who wrote 2 Samuel?
2 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Nathan and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 2 Samuel about?
2 Samuel records David's reign — his rise to the throne, the conquest of Jerusalem, the eternal covenant God makes with his house, and the moral failure with Bathsheba that fractures his family. From the highs of triumph to the depths of repentance, David remains the messianic prototype.
What are the major themes of 2 Samuel?
2 Samuel explores themes including Davidic Covenant, Sin & Repentance, Kingdom, Mercy, Consequences. These themes shape the meaning and context of 2 Samuel 18:5.
What translation should I read 2 Samuel 18:5 in?
2 Samuel 18:5 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 2 Samuel 18:5?
2 Samuel 18:5 reads (KJVA): “And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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