Then David took a count of the people who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
Parallel translations
- WEB David counted the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
- KJV And David numbered the people that 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.
- 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 8:10Joshua rose up early in the morning, mustered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.
- Exod 17:9Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us, and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with God’s rod in my hand.”
- 1 Sam 8:12He will appoint them to him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and he will assign some to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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
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