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.
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Commentary
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Gill's Exposition
But the people answered, thou shalt not go forth,.... They were as resolute as David:
for if we flee away, they will not care for us; to pursue after us:
neither if half of us die, will they care…
Barnes' Notes
Succour us out of the city - David, with a reserve, would hold the city, and either support the bands in case of need, or receive them within the walls should they be compelled to flee.
Adam Clarke
But now thou art worth ten thousand of us - The particle יתה attah, now, is doubtless a mistake for the pronoun אתה attah, thou; and so it appears to have been read by the Septuagint, the Vulgate, and…
Which way David raised an army here, and what reinforcements were sent him, we are not told; many, it is likely, from all the coasts of Israel, at least from the neighbouring tribes, came in to his…
Cambridge Bible
Thou shalt not go forth Compare the protest of David's followers on an earlier occasion (ch. 2Sa 21:17).
but nowthou art worth ten thousand of us As the Heb. text stands it must be rendered, and now…
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