2 Samuel 18:3-5

Lexham English Bible

³ Then the troops said, “You will not go out, for if we must flee,^[a] then they will not care about us;^[b] even if half of us die, they will not care about us,^[c] but now, you are like ten thousand of us. And so then, it is better for us that you be in the city to help.” ⁴ The king said to them, “I will do what seems good in your eyes.” So the king stood at the side of the gate while all of the troops went out by hundreds and by thousands. ⁵ The king ordered Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “With respect to the young man Absalom, deal gently for me.” And all the troops heard when the king ordered all of the commanders concerning the matter of Absalom.