But the men said, “You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore it is better that you send us help from the city.”
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 assistance, so that, by degrees, he was able to make head against Absalom, as Ahithophel foresaw. Now here we have, I. His army numbered and marshalled, Sa2 18:1, Sa2 18:2.
Commenting on 2 Samuel 18:1-8
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 for us; they will make no account of the victory; but if they could slay David, or get him into their hands, it would be more...
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.