2Sa 18:3 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.

By this time the army of David had grown to a considerable size for we read he could set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them (v.1). Following Hushai’s advice, Absalom pursued David. The aged King David prepared lead his army to crush the rebellion (v.2). But the people would not have their king going out to battle with the rest of his army.

There are three reasons why they insisted on this: