2 Samuel 18:3

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

But the people {H5971} answered {H559}, Thou shalt not go forth {H3318}: for if we flee {H5127} away {H5127}, they will not care {H7760}{H3820} for us; neither if half {H2677} of us die {H4191}, will they care {H7760}{H3820} for us: but now thou art worth {H3644} ten {H6235} thousand {H505} of us: therefore now it is better {H2896} that thou succour {H5826}{H5826} us out of the city {H5892}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But the people replied, "Don't go out; because if we flee, they won't care about us. Even if half of us die, they won't care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; so it is better now that you stay in the city and be ready if we need help."

Berean Standard Bible

But the people pleaded, “You must not go out! For if we have to flee, they will pay no attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It is better for now if you support us from the city.”

American Standard Version

But the people said, 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 thou art worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that thou be ready to succor us out of the city.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In 2 Samuel 18:3, during the tumultuous period of Absalom's rebellion, King David's loyal subjects passionately refuse his desire to personally lead them into battle. Recognizing his immense strategic and symbolic importance, they declare his life to be "worth ten thousand" of their own, emphasizing that his survival and continued leadership are far more crucial to the kingdom's stability and victory than his direct participation on the front lines. This verse powerfully underscores the irreplaceable value of a divinely appointed leader and the collective wisdom of a people committed to protecting their most vital asset for the greater good.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at a critical juncture in the narrative of Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David, which began in [2 Samuel 15](/2_samuel/15 "2 Samuel 15 - Absalom's Rebellion Begins"). David, having fled Jerusalem, is preparing for a decisive battle against Absalom's forces. In the preceding verses ([2 Samuel 18:1-2](/2_samuel/18-1 "2 Samuel 18:1-2 - David Organizes His Army")), David organizes his army into three divisions and expresses his intention to go out with them. This verse records the unified and emphatic response of his loyal people and commanders, who understand the catastrophic implications should their king fall. Their counsel overrides David's initial desire, highlighting the people's deep loyalty and strategic foresight in a moment of national crisis.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is ancient Israel during the monarchy, a time when the king was not merely a political leader but also a divinely anointed figure, representing the nation before God. David, in particular, held a unique status as the "man after God's own heart" ([1 Samuel 13:14](/1_samuel/13-14 "1 Samuel 13:14 - God Seeks a Man After His Own Heart")). Absalom's rebellion was a civil war, threatening the very fabric of the kingdom. In ancient warfare, the death or capture of a king often meant the immediate collapse of an army's morale and the swift defeat of the kingdom. The people's plea reflects this understanding, prioritizing the preservation of the monarchy's symbol and head over any individual military contribution David might make. Their concern is rooted in the practical realities of leadership succession and national stability in a volatile geopolitical landscape.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within 2 Samuel and the broader Deuteronomistic History. It highlights the **irreplaceable value of anointed leadership**, demonstrating that David's life was not merely one among many but held unique, strategic significance for the entire nation. It underscores the theme of **wise counsel and the protection of leadership**, as the people's collective wisdom prevents David from placing himself in unnecessary danger, echoing the later plea in [2 Samuel 21:17](/2_samuel/21-17 "2 Samuel 21:17 - Abishai Saves David"). Furthermore, it speaks to the **loyalty and self-sacrifice** of David's remaining followers, who are willing to risk their own lives but prioritize the king's safety as paramount for the kingdom's future. This demonstrates a profound understanding of the interconnectedness between a leader's well-being and the fate of the community.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Worth ten thousand (Hebrew, _ʿăśeret ʾălāfîm_):** This phrase is a powerful hyperbole, not a literal numerical comparison. It emphatically conveys David's incomparable value and strategic significance. In ancient Near Eastern thought, numbers often carried symbolic weight, and "ten thousand" represented an immense, overwhelming quantity. Thus, the people are asserting that David's presence, leadership, and survival are more crucial to the entire war effort and the future of the kingdom than the combined strength or sacrifice of a vast, unquantifiable number of ordinary soldiers. It speaks to his unique anointing, experience, and the psychological impact of his person on both his own troops and the enemy.
* **Succour (Hebrew, _laʿzōr_):** Meaning "to help," "to support," or "to assist." This word indicates that the people envision David's most effective role as providing strategic support and assistance from a position of safety, rather than engaging directly on the front lines. It implies that his wisdom, counsel, and presence as the ultimate authority are more valuable for the overall war effort than his physical participation in combat. His "succour" would be in the form of strategic guidance, prayer, and the symbolic reassurance of his continued existence as king.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth:"** This opening clause immediately establishes the people's unified and firm opposition to David's expressed desire to lead the army personally. The direct address, "Thou shalt not go forth," is a strong command, indicating their conviction and determination to protect their king, even from himself. It reveals a moment where the collective wisdom and loyalty of the subjects override the king's personal inclination.
* **"for if we flee away, they will not care for us;"** The people begin to articulate their reasoning, explaining the dire consequences of David's potential death or capture. They argue that if their army were to suffer a rout and flee, the enemy would not pursue or care about the common soldiers. Their focus would be solely on the king. This highlights the strategic importance of capturing or killing the opposing leader in ancient warfare.
* **"neither if half of us die, will they care for us:"** This clause further emphasizes their point. Even if a significant portion of their army were to be annihilated, the enemy's primary objective would remain David. The lives of the soldiers, while valuable to themselves, are deemed secondary to the king's life in the eyes of the enemy. This underscores the high stakes of the battle and the unique target David represents.
* **"but now [thou art] worth ten thousand of us:"** This is the core of their argument, a powerful hyperbole declaring David's indispensable value. His worth is not merely numerical but qualitative, encompassing his leadership, his anointing, his experience, and his symbolic role as the head of the kingdom. His survival is equated with the survival of the nation itself, making him more valuable than a vast army of common soldiers.
* **"therefore now [it is] better that thou succour us out of the city."** This concluding clause presents their proposed alternative and strategic advice. Given his incomparable value, they urge David to remain in the city, providing strategic support and leadership from a secure position. His "succour" would be his continued existence and guidance, ensuring the stability and morale of the kingdom, regardless of the battle's immediate outcome.

#### Literary Devices
The most prominent literary device in 2 Samuel 18:3 is **Hyperbole**. The declaration that David is "worth ten thousand of us" is a deliberate exaggeration used to emphasize his extraordinary and irreplaceable value. It is not meant to be taken literally but rather to convey the profound strategic and symbolic importance of his life to the entire kingdom. This hyperbole effectively communicates the people's deep loyalty, their understanding of ancient military strategy, and their conviction that David's survival is paramount. Additionally, there is an element of **Irony** in David's desire to lead from the front, a common kingly role, being overridden by the wisdom of his subjects, who understand that his greater value lies in his strategic oversight rather than direct combat. This reversal of expected roles highlights the unique circumstances of the rebellion and the people's protective instincts.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The people's declaration of David's incomparable worth ("worth ten thousand of us") speaks profoundly to the biblical understanding of divinely appointed leadership. It is not merely a statement of military strategy but an implicit recognition of David's unique anointing and his role as God's chosen king for Israel. His life was not his own, but belonged to the nation and, ultimately, to God's redemptive plan. This verse underscores the principle that certain individuals, by virtue of their calling and position, carry a weight and significance that transcends individual contribution, serving as a vital anchor for the community. Their protection becomes a collective responsibility, not just for their personal safety, but for the well-being and future of the entire people of God. This highlights the sacred trust placed in leaders and the reciprocal loyalty expected from those they lead.

* [2 Samuel 21:17](/2_samuel/21-17 "2 Samuel 21:17 - Abishai Saves David and the People's Plea")
* [Lamentations 4:20](/lamentations/4-20 "Lamentations 4:20 - The Lord's Anointed, Our Breath of Life")
* [Proverbs 11:14](/proverbs/11-14 "Proverbs 11:14 - Wisdom in Many Counselors")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The profound loyalty and strategic wisdom displayed by David's people in 2 Samuel 18:3 offer timeless lessons for contemporary leadership and community dynamics. It compels us to consider the unique value of individuals within any collective, particularly those in positions of significant influence or spiritual authority. Just as David's life was deemed indispensable for the kingdom's stability, so too are there individuals in our families, churches, and communities whose specific gifts, wisdom, or spiritual anointing are critical for the flourishing of the whole. This verse challenges us to recognize, protect, and strategically position such leaders, understanding that their well-being and effective functioning are paramount for the collective good. It also reminds us that true leadership is not always about being on the "front lines" but often about providing strategic oversight, spiritual guidance, and a stable presence from a position that maximizes their unique contribution. A healthy community fosters an environment where mutual protection and strategic discernment ensure that vital assets are preserved, allowing everyone to contribute according to their unique calling for the common good.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do we, as individuals and communities, recognize and value the unique contributions of our leaders, both spiritual and secular?**
* **In what ways might we be tempted to place our leaders in positions that diminish their long-term effectiveness or put them at unnecessary risk?**
* **What does it mean to "succour" or support our leaders from our respective positions, ensuring their ability to provide strategic guidance and spiritual nourishment?**
* **How can the principle of collective wisdom, as seen in the people's counsel to David, be applied in our own decision-making processes within families, churches, or organizations?**

### FAQ
**Why did David want to go out to battle personally, despite the risks?**

Answer: David's desire to go out with his troops was likely motivated by a combination of factors: his past experience as a warrior king, his personal courage, his desire to be present with his men in a critical moment, and perhaps a sense of responsibility to lead from the front. Throughout his reign, David had often led his armies into battle, demonstrating bravery and military prowess (e.g., [1 Samuel 17:48-51](/1_samuel/17-48 "1 Samuel 17:48-51 - David and Goliath")). However, at this point, he was older, and the stakes were higher, as it was a civil war involving his own son. The people's counsel in [2 Samuel 18:3](/2_samuel/18-3 "2 Samuel 18:3 - The People's Plea to David") wisely recognized that his symbolic and strategic value now outweighed any direct military contribution he could make.

**What is the significance of the phrase "thou art worth ten thousand of us"?**

Answer: The phrase "thou art worth ten thousand of us" is a powerful hyperbolic expression emphasizing David's irreplaceable value. It is not a literal mathematical equation but a declaration that his life, as the anointed king and the symbol of the nation, was far more crucial for the kingdom's survival and morale than the lives of a vast number of common soldiers. In ancient warfare, the death or capture of the king often meant immediate defeat and the collapse of the army. Thus, the people understood that preserving David's life was paramount to securing victory and the future of Israel. This sentiment is echoed later in [2 Samuel 21:17](/2_samuel/21-17 "2 Samuel 21:17 - Abishai Saves David and the People's Plea"), where the people plead with David not to go out to battle again, "that thou quench not the light of Israel."

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The declaration of David's irreplaceable worth by his people in 2 Samuel 18:3 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. If David, an earthly king, was "worth ten thousand" of his subjects, how much more is Christ, the eternal King of kings, of infinite and incomparable worth to all humanity! The people's plea for David to remain safe so he could "succour" them from the city foreshadows the strategic and redemptive work of Christ, who, though fully God, took on human flesh not to lead armies into physical battle, but to offer Himself as the ultimate sacrifice. His death and resurrection, rather than being a defeat, were the decisive victory, securing salvation for all who believe. He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), whose single life, freely given, is worth more than all humanity combined, for by it, we are reconciled to God ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). Unlike David, who was protected from battle to preserve the kingdom, Christ willingly entered the ultimate spiritual battle on the cross, His unique and divine value making His sacrifice singularly effective for the redemption of all who were lost ([Mark 10:45](/mark/10-45 "Mark 10:45 - The Son of Man Came to Serve")). His life was not preserved for the sake of a temporal kingdom, but laid down and taken up again, ensuring an eternal kingdom and an everlasting "succour" for all who trust in Him as their Lord and Savior ([Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Jesus Lives to Intercede")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Samuel 21:17

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.

2 Samuel 10:11

And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.

Zechariah 13:7

¶ Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man [that is] my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

Lamentations 4:20

The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.

Exodus 17:10

So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

Exodus 17:12

But Moses' hands [were] heavy; and they took a stone, and put [it] under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

1 Kings 22:31

But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.