And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
Parallel translations
- WEB David counted the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
- BSB Then David reviewed his troops and appointed over them commanders of hundreds and of thousands.
- NKJV And David numbered the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
- NASB Then David took a count of the people who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
- NLT David now mustered the men who were with him and appointed generals and captains to lead them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David organizes his men into units with commanders. He prepares his outnumbered force for the coming battle.
Overview
Having found refuge and provision, David musters and structures his troops under captains of thousands and hundreds. The orderly preparation shows the king's experienced leadership even in adversity. God works through David's wise organization to ready His people for the deliverance He intends to give.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Josh 8:10And 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.
- Exod 17:9And 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.
- 1 Sam 8:12And 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.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 18:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.