4 And the king said to them, I will do what is good in your sight. And the king stood by the gate-side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, [Deal] gently for my sake with the young man Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
6 And the people went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.
7 And the people of Israel were routed before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter there that day: twenty thousand men.
8 And the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country; and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
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