2 Samuel 18:2

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

And David sent forth the people, a third part 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.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיְשַׁלַּ֨ח דָּוִ֜ד אֶת־הָעָ֗ם הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֤ית בְּיַד־יוֹאָב֙ וְ֠הַשְּׁלִשִׁית בְּיַ֨ד אֲבִישַׁ֤י בֶּן־צְרוּיָה֙ אֲחִ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב וְהַ֨שְּׁלִשִׁ֔ת בְּיַ֖ד אִתַּ֣י הַגִּתִּ֑י ס וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־הָעָ֔ם יָצֹ֥א אֵצֵ֛א גַּם־אֲנִ֖י עִמָּכֶֽם׃

Transliteration

wa-yəšallaḥ Dāwid ʾet-ha-ʿām ha-šəlišit in-hand-of-Yôʾāb and-ha-šəlišit in-hand-of ʾĂbîšay son-of-Ṣərûyāh brother-of Yôʾāb and-ha-šəlišit in-hand-of ʾIttay ha-Gittî wa-yōʾmer ha-meleḵ to-ha-ʿām going-out I-will-go-out also-I with-you.

Grammar Details

• *wa-yəšallaḥ*: waw-consecutive + piel imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and he sent out
• *Dāwid*: proper noun, masculine singular - David
• *ʾet*: direct object marker
• *ha-ʿām*: definite article + common noun, masculine singular - the people/troops
• *ha-šəlišit*: definite article + ordinal number, feminine singular - the third (part)
• *Yôʾāb*: proper noun, masculine singular - Joab
• *ʾĂbîšay*: proper noun, masculine singular - Abishai
• *Ṣərûyāh*: proper noun, feminine singular - Zeruiah
• *ʾIttay*: proper noun, masculine singular - Ittai
• *ha-Gittî*: definite article + gentilic noun, masculine singular - the Gittite
• *wa-yōʾmer*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and he said
• *ha-meleḵ*: definite article + common noun, masculine singular - the king
• *yāṣōʾ ʾēṣēʾ*: qal infinitive absolute + qal imperfect 1st common singular - I will surely go out

Word Meanings

• *šālaḥ*: to send/send out/send away
• *šəlišit*: third (part)/one-third
• *yad*: hand/power/authority
• *yaṣaʾ*: to go out/come out/exit

Referenced Verses

• Judg 7:16 : 16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put into the hands of all of them trumpets, and empty pitchers, with torches within the pitchers.
• 2 Sam 15:19-22 : 19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return, and abide with the king: for thou art a foreigner, and also an exile; [return] to thine own place. 20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go whither I may? return thou, and take back thy brethren; mercy and truth be with thee. 21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As Jehovah liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will thy servant be. 22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
• 2 Sam 17:11 : 11 But I counsel that all Israel be gathered together unto thee, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.
• Ps 3:6 : 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of the people That have set themselves against me round about.
• Ps 27:1-3 : 1 [ A Psalm of David.] Jehovah is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evil-doers came upon me to eat up my flesh, [Even] mine adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though a host should encamp against me, My heart shall not fear: Though war should rise against me, Even then will I be confident.
• Ps 118:6-8 : 6 Jehovah is on my side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me? 7 Jehovah is on my side among them that help me: Therefore shall I see [my desire] upon them that hate me. 8 It is better to take refuge in Jehovah Than to put confidence in man.
• Judg 7:19 : 19 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outermost part of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch, when they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake in pieces the pitchers that were in their hands.
• Judg 9:43 : 43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people came forth out of the city; And he rose up against them, and smote them.
• 1 Sam 11:11 : 11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and smote the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they that remained were scattered, so that not two of them were left together.
• 2 Sam 10:7-9 : 7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. 8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field. 9 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians: 10 And the rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and he put them in array against the children of Ammon.